I really love my new home

It may be smaller but the area is fantastic, it is way closer to S's school and I love looking out my kitchen window. At the moment there are chickens, two pigs, sheep, and two pukekos (they are so beautiful) as soon as I get my camera back I will take some photos, just tried with my phone but did not come out right.

I have read about 200 pages of 'world without end' (sequel to pillars of the earth) and I am really enjoying it.

Both my children are at home with me this week and today was the first day, I am dreading tomorrow, they are being so naughty. I just do not know what to do. I think it is going to be a long couple of days until Christmas. Thought we might go to the beach if it is fine, if I get them out of the house they are really good, it is just at home, when they really play up.

I have still not received my marks, I think maybe they are waiting till the timetables are out so they can send them at the same time, I really don't think I will hear anything until next week now.

Anyway going to go back to the book
Merry Christmas everyone
Mon 8:10 pm

I have finished moving

what a relief.

It is S's last week of school this week, she does not go back until Feb 2nd, I start back on Feb 9th I think.

Not really much to say marks have not come yet, hopefully the reason they are taking so long is because they will send out timetables at same time. I really want to see what the timetable is for next year. Just so I can either relax or start worrying about children and school times, clashing with my school etc.

Anyway short post
Sun 10:23 pm

Forgot to ask

I brought the sequel to Pillars of the Earth today, it is called World Without End has anybody read it? I think I might have to read Pillars again, as it has been a few years since I read it.

And isnt moving the worst job in the world, almost finished, must admit it has been really good to be able to take a whole week to do it in , much less stressful.

Thurs 8:13pm

My last post has not come up straight away hope the computer did not eat it.

Great day :)

Today I opened an envelope that I thought was my marks and it was a congratulations letter, saying that I had been awarded a $3000 scholarship to pay towards my fees.

I could not believe it. I don't know if I mentioned it, but about a month ago I applied for a $750 scholarship. I thought there would be a slim chance in me getting the award and what do you know I received an even better award.

This is really major for me, I never really achieved well in high school, I did not get good marks and watched year after year people getting awards and scholarships, that seemed totally unattainable for me. Now I have actually become somebody that I never thought I would become. I always looked at people that received scholarships as being really academic and really good students. Getting this is such a huge achievement for me and I still cant believe it has happened.

This has really given me the drive I need, knowing that people are backing me and can see that I have potential is such a good feeling.

Thurs 7:51pm
Still no news on my marks :)

Almost finished moving

I will be so glad when this week is over and I am in my new home. I decided that these Christmas holidays (10 weeks roughly) I would get a start and hopefully finish one of the big assignments for the childbearing paper I am doing next year. It is funny I dread Christmas holidays because they are so long and boring, but I have not been bored once and it actually feels like time is flying. I hope in the next week or two, things will settle down and I can get on with some study.

I am also hoping to get in plenty of exercise in these holidays, I feel really unfit and need to get back to the gym.

No news yet on the marks or timetable front.

Wed 7:27pm

It is christmas soon

I have actually finished my shopping for it, that is quite an amazing feat in it self. I have not finished moving yet, but we put our Christmas tree up, yesterday at the new house. It looks really neat, just wondering if I should risk putting presents under it. Will my children behave themselves and not open the presents? ( I am no going to put their presents under till Christmas eve, so they will know that Santa brought theirs, just other family and friends)

My marks have not been sent out yet, hoping I will get new timetable at same time, anyway better go.

Mon 9:35 am

We are moving

I just wrote this and it did not come through. We are moving to this road, it is nicknamed Oak Avenue, and I think it is the most beautiful road. It was planted in 1873 and this photo does not do it justice, so I will take some of my own photos and put them up. Anyway just a short post, need to get back on and give proper update soon. Thurs 9:47 pm

One down

I had my first exam today and hopefully in the next hour or two I will know my results, it was a multi choice exam of 70 questions.



I also have received the three assignments back, I got 88% (A) for the physical assessment assignment. 82 % (A-) for the Cystic Fibrosis essay and boo hoo only 63 % (c+) for the ethics essay. Worst mark yet. But I think I will still get a B - for the paper when the grades average out.



It is pretty depressing so far I know I will not get an A for two papers (as the exam I did today I would have had to get close to 100% and that is highly unlikely), so fingers crossed I do well in pharm exam tomorrow and get an A for that paper (that is the paper that I got 88% in the essay, it was worth 50% and the exam tomorrow is worth 50%, and A- in NZ is 80%)



So my marks should hopefully be an A, B+ and a B-. Im still annoyed I did really well in year one, going to try really really hard next semester to pull my grades back up.



On a brighter note I had my mentor meeting on Monday, and she was really impressed with my work on clinical placement, especially with the babies and children, so she is recommending me to SCBU (special care baby unit), this is the place that I chose for my placement but seeing as it is so popular, the chances of being picked are unlikely. However if your mentor sends an email to the practicum manager then you should get put there, fingers crossed.

Also my mentor gave my name to the learning hub (extra support , tutoring service) to become a student tutor, and you get paid for it. I did really well in anatomy and physiology last year, and she thinks that I would be a good tutor for some of the students that are struggling with it.

Anyway I am at tech till 7pm, big S is picking the kids up from school and doing dinner, bath, bed so I can study for tomorrow, so better go.

Tue 3:45 pm

At tech studying

My exams start tomorrow and I am a tech studying, well trying to anyway, I get so distracted. I have really bad hay fever too and it is driving me up the wall, I use tablets and eye drops but they are not working. I have contacts in and my eyes are so itchy.

So far this morning I have been revising trauma, and shock.

Glasgow Coma Scale:
A score of less then 8 means a likely severe head injury.
The lowest score that you can get is a 3 and this would mean a very deep coma or death.
The highest score is a 15 and that is fully awake.

For a Trauma call to be made (this list is not complete, I have only picked out the main things)
It would have to be a status 1 or 2
Physiology would be: RR less then 10 or more then 29, BP less then 90 mmHg, GCS of less then 13.
There may be multiple casualties.
Injuries: of head, neck, torso, Flail chest, complicated pelvic injury, major crush injury.

Shock Types:

Cardiogenic and this includes obstructive
Hypovolaemic
Circulatory, and this also includes septic, neurogenic and anaphylatic

Better go, sorry for mistakes and bad grammar.

Mon 12:02 pm

Maybe of interest

Just found a list of Drug and their herbal interactions, so i will list a few.

Agrimony decreases the effects of Insulin.
Alfalfa increases the effects of Warfarin.
Garlic increases the effects of Insulin and Warfarin.
Stinging nettle increases the effects of Diclofenac and perhaps other NSAIDS.
Rhubarb increases the effects of Digoxin.
Chamomile increases the effects of Hypnotics.

Goodnight Thurs 8:19pm

I'm finished :)

Today was my last day, I cant believe I was there for a month. I think that must have been the fastest month of my life. I know I was moaning a bit a while back about how I was not really enjoying it, but I have to say that today I was quite sad to leave and when I think about it, I did enjoy myself. Sure there were a few times when I was over the whole thing but overall I learnt heaps, gained confidence in my clinical skills and now feel much more confident in my ability to become a future RN. The biggest thing I learnt in the last month was that I really love working with children, especially babies. They even said in my evaluation that I show great ability with children. This has strengthened my thoughts in specialising in pediatrics when I graduate. I have applied for clinical at the special care baby unit next semester and fingers crossed I get it, this is the one place that I have always wanted to go but heaps of people are asking to go there as well. I just pray that I get picked.

So anyway next week I have my final exams and that's me for about 10 weeks. What am I going to do with myself? I have decided that I want to make a start and get through a big assignment that we do next semester. I have got all the info for it , so know what I need to do. So hopefully I stick to that idea, as that is my goal for the summer holidays.

Time flies

I have only two days left of my practical placement, I cant believe I have been there for a month, it has gone so fast.

Life has been pretty hectic at the moment on the family/ home front, hence the reason I have not been posting much lately.

While I am here I will provide the most common adverse effects of drugs on the human body( hopefully it is a question in my exam next week)
1. Respiratory depression
2. Anaphylatic shock
3. Dizziness
4. Constipation
5. Hypertension
6. Hypotension
7. Oral candidiasis
8. Rash
9. Dry mouth
10. Nausea
11. Drowsiness and sedation
12. Fever
13. Photophobia
14. Stomatitis
15. Diarrhoea
16. Anogenital candidiasis
17. Vomiting
18. Blistering
19. Photo sensitivity
20. Postural hypotension

Goodnight
Tue 7:32 pm

almost through week 3

and then only one more week to go, this week has been my best. I am really enjoying the work and absolutely loving all the babies that come in :)

Study is not going to well at the moment but still have a couple of weeks to go, at the moment I am eagerly waiting for the marks back from the three assignments I did a few weeks ago. Fingers crossed it is good news.

Well, this is going to be short, no word of the day, I just want to go and hop into bed, I am sooo tired.

Night

Wed 8:09 pm

I am tired,

and dare I say this but abit bored of the health centre. It is starting to feel like all everyday is, is CVD assessments, diabetes checks, blood tests, vomiting children, leg ulcers, blood pressure checks, vaccinations (which I am not aloud to do). At least now I know I definitely want to work in acute care, don't get me wrong, I have enjoyed it, but I just feel like I will need something more in my career as a nurse. My friend is also in a health centre, and she is absolutely loving it, primary health is her thing, she does not want to ever work at the hospital.

Another thing that I am finding is that depending on which nurse I work with, depends on what kind of day I will have. Today was pretty good, my nurse let me do heaps and she just stood back and watch, but a couple of the other nurses, seem to forget that I can do it and just seem to go on automatic. So my new goal for the next two weeks, is to jump in and say would you like me to do this or that for you.

Words of the day:

Post - ictal: The state immediately following a seizure.

Postprandial: Occurring after a meal

Paraesthesias: Abnormal sensations such as burning, creeping flesh or tingling.

I have been studying antibiotics (for my exam) and the four ways that they stop bacteria, this is:

1. Inhibition of cell wall synthesis
e.g Penicillin, Cephalosporans

2. Disruption of the microbial cell wall
e.g Polymixin/ colistin

3. Inhibition of DNA replication, DNA synthesis and protein synthesis
e.g Tetracyclines, Aminoglycosides

4. Interference with metabolic processes
e.g Sulphonamides and Trimethoprim

Mon 8:19pm

Tonight is

Guy Forkes (is that how you spell it), but because it does not get dark untill about 8 pm and the kids go to sleep at 6:30, they will not see any. We are still wondering if we should get them up to have a look, but there are not really any down our street. Big S brought some but I think we are leaving them for the weekend.

I have been having a pretty good time at clinical, most of the nurses are pretty cool. The one that I worked with today, was pretty much letting me do most of the things needed in the consultations. The only things we are not permitted to do are Vaccinations, Smeer tests and Bloods.

In three weeks I have my final exams. One is for the adolescent and young adult paper and that is 70 questions, half will be mental health and the other half will be medial/ surgical. Then I have another exam which is 70 questions also and it is half pharmocolgy and half physical assessment.

So I think I will focus on pharmacolgical type things for my words of the day.

Because I always get these two mixed up:

Antagonist: A drug that is attracted to a receptor but does not activate it. Sometimes the word blocker is used to describe this action.

Agonist: A drug or naturally occurring substance that stimulates a receptor.

And one extra one:

Intrathecal: A route of administration where a drug is injected into the cerebrospinal fluid.

Well I started this ages ago but we got the kids up to have a look at the fire works, O didnt like them and went straight back to bed. It got quite windy and started to rain, so then we put S back to bed and they are both asleep again.

Anyway better go

Wed 9:06 pm

Off to clincial

but had a few mins to spare and thought I would do my word of the day:

Stegnosis: A stoppage of any of the secretions or excretions or A constriction or stenosis.

I hope I have a good day, I really want to get as many things done as possible, so I hope it is busy.

Fingers crossed

Tue 8:19 am

New Idea...

I am bored the kids are having a rest, so I thought I would start a new word of the day type thing, but I will only use nursing or medical words or conditions etc. I will refer to Stedmans Medical Dictionary for the Health Professions and Nursing.

The page I opened was v's, so the condition I learnt today was:

Vernet syndrome: A syndrome characterized by paralysis of the motor components of the glossopharyngeal, vagus, and accessory cranial nerves as they lie in the posterior fossa; it is most commonly the result of head injury.

Sick Kids...big sigh

Well, at 5:30am this morning, S threw up, it is policy that children do not go to school until it has been 24 hours since the last time they threw up. So I had to miss my clinical today, if my partner big S had been home, he said he would have stayed home to look after her, but he left for work at 4:30am.

As S was staying home, I though O could as well, well its only 9 am and I am slowly regretting that idea. He wants to play with S but she is in bed, as her tummy is still hurting and so he is very bored.

I had to make 4 phone calls, one to the health centre where I am working, one to my lecturer, one to S's school, and one to O's centre. If I have to make up the day, I Can do it on a Friday, as we have Fridays off, so that is not a problem.

I hate tummy bugs, I get so paranoid about germs, I clean the toilet, taps etc after they have been used by the infected person, with bleach. I had a tummy bug when O was a baby, it was horrible, I could not walk, and I was breastfeeding him, I wont go into any more detail but you can just imagine how horrible it would have. So now I go a little over bored on the whole cleaning thing. I do not want to take any chances.

Since I have the day off, I will be able to get a start on the study, as O will have a rest at some stage, and I do not think S is going to be up to anything much.

Fingers crossed that she is better by tomorrow, big S will take the day off work, but I would rather it did not come to that, as that will mean another sick day being used.

Mon, 9:23am

I passed

I passed the physical assessment yesterday, I drew cardiovascular system out of the hat, not one that I was really confident with but I passed. So that's it, all that is left is 3 weeks at the health centre and two exams. One is worth 20 % of my end of year mark, that is for the adolescent and young adult paper. The other is worth 50%, and that one is for pharmacology and physical assessment.

Completed my first week of clinical, its good and interesting. But I don't think primary health is really for me, don't get me wrong, I would enjoy working there but when I compare it to the work I have done at the hospital, I felt 100% more happier at the hospital. This might sound a bit strange but when I was working at the hospital, it almost felt like I was at home, I am sure that will pass the more work I do there. But I know that is where I want to start my career as a nurse. In New Zealand primary health is becoming really big, that whole thing about prevention, and there are more and more jobs starting in that area, they are even starting new grad programmes now. Which is good, as they only use to be in the hospitals.

One of the annoying things about NZ is that we do not get taught to cannulate and take blood etc, until we have graduated and become RN's, which I think is stupid. Anyway my lecturer told me last week, that if the RN's and patients are happy, I can learn to take blood, even though we are not really aloud and if the Head of Nursing found out, I do not even want to think about what would happen. Anyway I have not yet said this to any of the RN's I am working with, they all seem to pretty much follow it by the book sort of people and I do not know what response I would got if I mentioned that I would like to learn as my Lecturer said I could. My friend who is at another health centre, got to take blood last week. She is having the best time and said that she did more things in her first day then in her whole hospital placement, while it has been the other way round for me this time. I suppose you cant get fantastic placements all the time, and this centre was good for me, in the fact that I start at 9am which gives me time to drop S off at her new school (the school starts at quarter to 9, all the other placements start at 7, 8, or 8:30) and it was really important to me, that she was settled in properly.


Going to go and watch the new Indiana Jones movie, it just came out on DVD here, so we hired if for the night.

Sat 8:37 pm

First day at health centre...

was pretty good, I mostly observed (apart from doing BP's, weights, heights etc) but I was quite happy to do that, as it was good to get my bearings and to get to know everyone. So bring on tomorrow, I am going to have a go at everything that is offered to me and try not to act to nervous. I guess what worries me, is that I will make a mistake and the nurse will think I am stupid. I need to have a bit more confidence in myself, I have the knowledge base to do this stuff, but just feel I do not have the clinical experience, but that will come with practice right?

That is one thing I do not like about the the degree I am doing, we have clincials in block of 2,3,4,6 weeks. So far I have done 2, 2 week and 1, 3 week blocks in the one and a half years I have been there, so that's a total of 7 weeks but only 4 were clincial as the other was mental health. Apart from practicums we do not have any practice in class, apart from the one hour they give us to learn something. I feel that the gaps are to big and by the time practical comes around we are to out of practice in our clinical skills. Yeah I know we can practice in our own time, and I do try and put practice in, but by the time you have assignments and exams, there is just not enough time to get the practice in. I would love it, if we were out 1 day a week every day of the semester, I think that would be so much better. I guess there must be a reason why they do it the other way :)

Anyway enough moaning, going to go and do some reading on diabetes, asthma and cardiovascular disease.

Tue 8:49 pm

Tomorrow I start Clinicals

for 4 weeks at a doctors clinic, I think there are about 6 doctors all together and two nurses at each time. I am a bit nervous, the last time I was in a medical setting was back in April, since then I have only been to a mental health placement (addiction services). It is only a 3 week day this week anyway, as today is labour day in NZ and Fri is my physical assessment competency. Anyway fingers crossed that I do not do anything stupid and make a fool of myself and I should be fine. I am the only student working there and I will only see a lecturer once a week, if that there not very reliable.

Better go, am taking my son for a bike ride around to his grandads.

Then I will come home and sort out my objectives etc for my first week.

Mon 9:25am

well its that

time of the week, I am off to work shortly. Last week was not to bad, as a fellow nursing student was on too. She is really nice and we worked together, which made things much easier. Tonight will be my 6th shift and I still feel like I don't really know how the place is run. I am confident with caring for the residents and all that stuff but not the exact schedule of the night and who does what, when etc.

It's pretty cold today, which is a bit strange. Yesterday we planted our vege gardens, so that was fun. My partner and I have separate ones because he wants to have a competition. That is so like him, there just vegetables but never mind.

I re read my essay yesterday, and found a spelling mistake and commas in the wrong places, and a couple of other mistakes. But I had already handed it in, so that was a bit annoying.

Opps look at the time, better go
Sun 2:37 pm

Im happy :)

I finished my third essay today, so have stuck to my goals for the week. That's all the assignments done for the semester now. All that is left is the physical assessment competency next week, 4 weeks of clinical placement and two multi choice exams. But pretty much feels like I am finished, it is the essays that really get to me, so as soon as those get done I always feel 100 times better about school.

The plan is going well

Yesterday I handed in the physical assessment paper and the CF essay. I feel that I did pretty well and put in a lot of effort this time, so hopefully I get some marks better then the last ones.

I brought a swiss ball today. I think I have mentioned that I have been going to physio because of a sore knee, well turns out it was my back affecting my knee. So she has been working on that for the last week and now I have lots of exercises that require a swiss ball to do. She told me they were only $20 the price I had to pay was $40. Glad I brought it though I have an awful chair for the computer, so I am trying my swiss ball and it is quite good, keeps my back nice and straight.

Well I need to keep to my goals so better get off here.

Wed, 12:27pm

I have to go to

work this afternoon, I soooo cant be bothered. I started working in a resthome hospital about a month ago, and I do 3 - 9 pm on a sun night, so I really should stop whinging. It's hardly anything, and the time flies.

This morning I tried to make porridge and I burnt it, I just made the kids some popcorn and that didn't really work either, I don't know where my cooking skill have gone, I use to be a great cook.

MY goals for the week are:
Finish physical assessment assignment
Go over my cystic fibrosis essay, check for mistakes
Hand these in on Tues
Then I will finish my Ethics essay by Thurs and take that over and hand in
Fri, Sat, Sun, and Mon (Labour weekend holiday) I will revise for my clinical placement starting on Tue
I will also practice the cardio, resp, neuro, and abdomin assessments for Fri 31st,

So that's the plan, I want all my assignments in by thurs, they are not due to the following thurs but there is no way I want to be writing an essay after I get home from placement's.
Its just to stressful, I have seen other people do it and they are a mes.

Sun 10:42 am

Thats a week over

and I feel like poo, and what do you know I didn't get enough work done today. I just could not concentrate. My family are having a night at their grandparents place tonight (big S included) so I can get some work done.
Better go, bags to pack

The time

here is 9:19 pm, thursday night.

Feeling pleased

Well since starting the week off in a slight panic, I feel that I have accomplished a bit of work. The day after my 3 essays are due, so it will be the 31st of Oct. We have a physical assessment competency. There are four systems they could test us on but we will pick one out of a hat. The systems are cardio, abdominal, neuro or resp. This week I have managed to learn each one and write the documentation for each one too. So am pretty pleased. On the other hand however I have not really made much progress on my essays and now guess what I am starting to get a bit panicky again. Time is moving way to fast. I don't really think people realise I get this way because I always remain pretty calm but its on the inside that my mind is doing the worrying. To top it all off I have got a cold, so even though I need to get a move on with my study, I feel to dozey and sleepy too actually do anything about it.

On a brither note my daughters weeks has been pretty good. Today when I left she did not cry. Yay! She seems to have had a good day, she got to choose a book bag yesterday and brought her first book home for reading. She was so excited.

Well I need sleep.
I am going to make myself a promise, tomorrow I am going to write all day (after i get back from the physio and dropping kiddies off, oh and I really want to vacuum and mop the floors, washing off course and a general tidy up, I am such a procrastinator) OK by 11am I will be at my desk studying.

The first day

I took S to school this morning for her first day. The morning didn't go to well as O would not get dressed and I got quite grumpy. But after we had dropped him off at pre school and S had popped into her old classroom to give her old teachers a present she had made in the weekend (oooooh shes so sweet). We got on our way to her new school. Everything went well until it was time for me to leave, she cried and came after me, grabbing onto my leg. Its hard when all you want to do is pick them up and say ok, there, there you don't have to go to school, come with me. However I know that I cant do that so even though it broke my heart I gave her a hug, kissed the top of her head, said I love you and I would pick her up this afternoon and I left, with the teacher holding onto her. Best practice I think to have it short and sweet, or else I would have been there for who knows how long, trying to say goodbye.

Anyway, I am at tech and I am suppose to be studying, obviously I am not. So I better make a start. I have to leave here at 1:45 to go to the physio and then go back and get S. I hope I have enough petrol, funds are a bit tight this week.

What a lovely day :)

I have just spent a half hour on our front porch reading the Saturday newspaper and tanning my legs. Quite an accomplishment to have some time to yourself when you have a small family. But they are having a rest with their father, everyone is so tired, I think it is the change in seasons.

I have been counting down to my daughter S's first day of school on Monday We have been getting everything ready, my step mother finished her chair bag today, so I picked that up this morning. It is neat, a cupcake pattern and she had sewn S's name through the top. We have to get stationary on Mon morning at the school office. Part of me is sooo excited but the other part is sad. When I took her for a school visit before the holiday, I had to hold back the tears when I left her there for the day, so I hate to think how I will be on Monday. After that I have my first day back at tech. So hopefully I can pull myself together before i get there :)

We are down to the last week of classes for the semester, so it is quite exciting to think that I am basically half way through my degree. All that is left is four weeks of clinical and then exams. Our exams are really late this year (at the end of Nov) last year we had about a 12 week break but I think it will only be 8 weeks, this time. I am glad because I get bored at home and really look forward to getting back into it. Last Christmas holidays I did a paper in summer school, so that made the time go faster however there are no other papers offered this year that i can do.

Anyway better go the kids have just woken up, grumpy might I add.

sorry

I have just been having a quick look through my old posts and I can't believe how bad I am at checking my grammer and spelling :)

well, it has been a slow day....

I have been slowly working on my physical assessment assignment. Last night I completed the Subjective Data section, and I have started typing it up today. However I feel that I need more information, so I have been reading through Jarvis for more information on questioning about functional health patterns, environmental health ( I am a bit stuck on recreational), self perception, stressors and values in life. I am really aiming for at least 80% (A-). As I am pretty disappointed with my last two marks, as I know I can do better and usually do do better.

I just don't know what is going wrong this semester. Am I just going through a rut? Have I been kidding myself thinking I can get through this with really good marks? Am I losing motivation? I keep telling myself I am half way through only 1.5 years to go. This semester has really taken it out of me though. I am finding it hard to have motivation. I always go to every class, and always look forward to class. But a few weeks ago I woke up and for the first time since i started the degree I could not be bothered going( I did go) but that's when the warning bells went off, and I have not been able to really get my enthusiasm back. I usually enjoy study and enjoy the different papers we have to complete. However lately I am just doing essays to get through and to tick each thing off, on my list of things to complete.

Physical assessment fieldwork assignment

That is what I am working on at the moment. I have to do an objective and subjective assessment on a person with an illness or condition that needs nursing care, as well as that I need to complete a full physical assessment and incorporate 10 to 12 nursing diagnosis's.

I recently started working in the hospital wing of a rest home about 5 mins drive from my house. I have only worked two weekends so far (Sat and Sun nights 3 - 9 pm) but this has been changed to just Sun nights now. It is pretty heavy work and what do you know I have injured my knee, not through work but running on the treadmill at the gym. I have been to the physio three times so far but my knee is just not improving and is really quite sore, I am worried about working on it this Sun, so I am going to talk to my physio tomorrow and see what she thinks.

My daughter was 5 on the weekend, we all has such a good time. She is on holiday this week and then starts school next Mon. That is when I go back to tech for my last week of classes for the year. I then have one more week study and then am at a doctors practice for 1 month. I am looking forward to my placement as I have heard they are really friendly and supportive. I am not really interested in primary health nursing but will go into it with an open mind.

2,369

that's how many words so far, I spent 6.5 hours at tech yesterday, pretty good, except people kept coming and talking to me. So I did not get as much work done as I wanted to. This essay has taken a lot of research, I have 12 references so far and will have about 17 ( I dont know how that compares in other places around the world but here in NZ that is quite a lot for a 2nd year paper) by the time I have finished. I am really trying hard to do well in this essay, as so far I am not happy with the two marks I have received (B- and B) for my theory essay and mental health portfolio. Last semester I was getting mostly A- and A's. Something seems to be going wrong and I am a little disappointed with myself.

I am so tired, I have found a little room in the tech library with a computer but all I want to do is put my head down and go to sleep.

Well back to work, break over.

Time flys

It is my daughter S's 5th birthday on Sunday (5th) I cant believe she is going to be starting school. I am a little bit sad, but also really excited too. She is having a party on Sat, so it is going to be such a neat weekend.

I have written 1500 words for my Cystic Fibrosis essay, I want to have it all completed my wed (1st Oct), so I can start my next one. My goal is to have them all finished the week before I start my clinical placement on the 28th Oct. I am working 9 to 5:30 and there is no way I want to be stressing over essays at the same time as clinical. Plus we have out physical assessment competency on the Friday (day after our 3 essays are due) of our first week of clinical too. I so need to get some practice in for that at some stage. We will do resp, cardio, abdom or neuro assessment. We will pull one out of a hat. I am taking my partner big S in for that, he will be my patient. Fingers crossed I pass first time, I have for other competency's so feel a bit of pressure to keep it up.

Anyway better go, I drove to tech to spend the day here working on my essay.

Anyone have any ideas?

This is the essay question



Choose and describe a health issue requiring nursing action, that has a direct link to or impact on an adolescent, their family and society.

Critically review and analyse the literature on health promotion strategies initiated to comb
at the chosen health issue. Identify the relevance of the health promotion strategy to the adolescent population. Does it work?

Based on developmental theory and best practice guidelines, list all aspects of nursing care for your chosen clinical focus, prioritise 3 aspects which in you justified opinion are the main priorities of clinical care. Underpin this discussion with best practice guidelines.

I think I have researched enough, and have quite a lot of information, the only thing I cant find is a good website, database etc for best practice guidelines.

I have chosen cystic fibrosis for the healht issue.

Not havign a good week, I only got 67% (B) on my theorist essay, MY last three essays have been in the high 80's (A), It has been a bit of a jump from first year to second. The essay quesiton above is one of the essay, I also have two more, the three are all due on the same day and then the day after I have a physical assesment comptency to do.

4524

That's how many words my mental health portfolio was, I have had a good day because I got that finished and handed in. It is my biggest assignment so far, and I am sure they will get bigger. It didn't seem that big though, I think because it had three sections. These were prior learning, objectives for clinical and four aspects of care. I talked about communication, pharmacology, assessment and mental health and the law.

Only one more day of tech, for the week.

I passed!!!!

I passed so I am happy, we got our results back a couple of hours later, which is very unusual for EIT.
I also think I have found a job, went for an interview today and am going in on Sat for 3 hours, to make sure I like it. It is working as a caregiver in a hospital resthome. Just a weekend every couple of weeks at this stage, so not to stressful but a bit helpful with more money coming in.

Anyway better go I have two days to get this mental health portfolio done, I soooo cant be bothered.

Exam tomorrow

Tomorrow I have a drug calculations exam, you have to get 100% but it is only 20 questions, so should be pretty easy. I don't really think of it as an exam anyway seems to short to be called an exam.

We start back at school tomorrow after one week study break. I am not really looking forward to it. We have heaps of work to get through, and I get so tired of hearing the same people stress out each time, it gets really old and brings everyone down. Also the question asker's ( I know that is not really a word) are driving me crazy, it feels like no one learns anything because the lectures keep getting interrupted by questions.

Sorry for whining, I am still trying to get through my mental health portfolio, I want to have it finished by Wednesday, and then will start the next essay. We have three essays due on the 30Th Oct, so will need to decide which one to do first on Thursday. I like to give myself heaps of time to do assignments, I hate feeling stressed because time is ticking by.

On a more positive note we are into the 7Th day of spring and it has been beautiful, bit chiller yesterday, and we had the fire on but today is so sunny and warm. I always feel better when the weather gets warmer and brighter :)

Pretty good day today

I went on a home visit to a young women who was referred to a services by a court order, she is under beep beep and has been on home detention for 1.5 months. Then I went to a college and sat in on a session with two 15 year old boys who are getting into alot of trouble with cannabis use. The counsellor I was with was really good, and she let me have input in the sessions, which I really enjoyed. I felt like I asked the boys two really good questions and gave them something to think about in the following week, until their next session.

I heard something that really upset me and shocked me today, an 8 year old is being referred to the youth counsellors at beep beep, they have a history of solvent and cannabis abuse. They are in the care of beep beep beep (means they will be in a foster home). It just breaks your heart to hear things like that, the youth counsellors usually only have 12 - 18 year olds, so when something like this comes along it must be really hard on them emotional, as well as all the other issues that would come along.

By the way

I would love to hear from any nursing students out there, and if you have any comments or quesitons about nursng or being a student in New Zealand

Sarrah

Quiet Day

Today was pretty quiet, so I only worked from 8:15am till 1:45pm. I cant really call what I have been doing as working really anyway more like observation. However I have learnt alot, and have really enjoyed these last couple of weeks away from tech. This semester has been pretty hard for me. I find it really hard to concentrate in class. This is due to a few people in our classes that constantly ask questions or have to comment on everything the lecturer talks about, otherwise they are telling everyone their life story for the 100th time. I know that I am not the only person that feels like this and from the sounds of talk around the place, a few people are about to lose their cool.

Today I sat in on a session about a man who is alcohol dependent both physically and psychologically. He is going to put himself under the alcoholism and drug act (1966) voluntarily. This is so he can go to a 6 month residential facility down in beep beep (south island). It was quiet emotional, I have found in the last couple of weeks that I am very sensitive and find myself going red with tears welling up when I hear stories about people and children in the area I live. I don't know if I want this emotional reaction to stop because I think that while this happening , it means that I am not becoming desensitized to these things. (By the way, I don't completely lose it or anything and nobody notices that I might be upset, it is not very noticeable)

One week to go

There is one week left of my placement to go, I had a pretty good week, and I really am going to miss everyone, when it is time to go back to tech. I have learnt heaps about addiction and the roles that the nurses, counsellors and social workers play. It must be such a hard job, but they seem to work together really well and support each other.

Not really much else to say, really want to do some more work on my portfolio so will make this a short post.

I need to find a job

Big S my partner is the only one working in our family, I only study and so far this has been working but since price rises and petrol increases we are really finding it hard to get by. S is doing jazz and O has just started rugby for 3 and 4 year olds (its just a bit of fun on a sat morning for kids to have a bit of a run around) However these things costs money, not millions but it all adds up. I have been driving twice the distance 5 times a week for clinical placement and I still have another week and half to go. So I think I need to look at working, I have been thinking about sleepovers, where you sleep in peoples houses overnight, you only wake up if they need you. I thought it would be good because I wont be missing out on stuff with the kids as they will be asleep, I will be getting some sleep and making money. Anyway Ill have a look around to see if there are any vacancies in some of the agencies.

Today was good at A Services, my lecturer came and saw me, to talk about my portfolio, that is a bit clearer now. I went to a group for teenage boys who have offended and are on a programme for 14 weeks, and I sat in on a session with a 15 year who is wanting to give up cannabis. Looking forward to tomorrow, hope it is not going to be too cold a day.

Hi Again....

I have been trying to put a picture up but my computer is being a pain, so hopefully I should get one up soon.

I also figured that when I post it is not giving my time in New Zealand. So just for some boring info, the time is Sun 7:54 pm here.

I am back at a services tomorrow for my second week, it is good there the staff are really helpful and friendly. It's just that many people do not come for their appointments, so there has been a lot of spare time, which can get pretty boring.

I have to do this stupid assignment as well, it called a mental health portfolio, the first part is your prior knowledge, second is your objectives for the placement and the third is aspects of care. You have to choose four and use at least two people, we are suppose to interview them, which is basically impossible. When if they do come to their appointment, which is usually about an hour, their not really going to want to wait around while a student asks them questions. It just doesn't seem to be as easy as what the lecturers made it out be. Anyhow I am doing communication, pharmacology, assessment and models of care medical vs non medical. I am suppose to write about each one comparing it to the particular client I interview, confusing???? I know. I have one person to use, he is coming back this week for an appointment so I will ask him permission to use his notes and ask him a few questions. Why didn't I ask him on the first appointment? Because by the time I ran it past the counsellor I was assigned to that day, the man had already left the building and it would not have been very appropriate to run after him and ask, even though I really wanted to so I could get on with my assignment.

Anyway I will stop rabbiting on and hope tomorrow goes well and I get to sit on a few sessions. I am with the youth counsellor tomorrow, he seems really nice.

Goodnight

First ever blog

Hi,

I am a 2nd year nursing student in New Zealand. A couple of months ago I was bored and typed in nursing student diary into google and have since read quite a few blogs. So I thought I would try it out for myself, I also thought it would be neat to have something to go back to throughout my training and when I graduate.

A few things I have noticed between New Zealand and USA:
- NZ is a three year degree, while I think USA is 4 years???
- USA seems to have much more clinical experience, which seems to be much more better then
what we do in New Zealand.
- USA seems to be much more medical based then what we have in New Zealand.

(This is only going from what I have read in other peoples blogs)

Just to give an examples of what a NZ degree is like year one papers were:

Semester one:
Nursing knowledge 1
Anatomy and physiology 1
Health and Kawawhakaruruhau (Sociology paper)

Semester two:
Nursing knowledge 2
Anatomy and physiology 2
Context of health (Psychology and human development paper)

Year two semester one, which I am currently doing now
Adolescence and young adults (Surgical/ mental health paper)
Pharmacology and physical assesment( to me this needs to be two completely different papers not joint together like they are)
History and philosophy of nursing.

So far my clincial experience has been:
-Two weeks in a rest home
-Two weeks in AAU (Acute Assesment Unit) at hospital
-And currently I am at A Services for three weeks.
So not much clincial experience really.

The spell check is not working so I apologise for any mistakes in spelling