The diary of a NZ student nurse

I am an RN!!!!!

2010-10-10T17:36:00.002+13:00

and have been working for five weeks!

The hospital where I live only had two positions for the 35 of us that finished in July. These two positions were in mental health, and I actually got one. I am really enjoying it, I start post grad study in Jan, which is all paid for.

I still cannot believe I am not a student anymore, I still feel like I am on a placement. My job is really good but so much to learn. I work 80 hours a fortnight, so it is has been hard getting use to that I was expecting to work 64 a fortnight.

Will post again soon, have been so busy, new house, car (my good old trusty died), new job, life bit stressful at moment :)

I sit state

2010-07-19T13:55:00.001+12:00

tomorrow!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

So much to catch up on. I will soon, I promise.

Who would have thought

2010-05-13T09:14:00.002+12:00

I would do a nursing degree and not be able to get an actual job. There are no new grad programmes where I live and there are no positions for level one RN's either. So I have had to apply to other cities. Which even if I get an interview and the slim chance of a job (with the whole of the north island applying at the two DHB's that are offering new grad programmes), my whole family will have to move and I do not know if we are ready to do that.

So far I have sent away for about 15 jobs and about five of those have been we are sorry but we will not be offering positions to new grads until next year. Please apply back then.

I am so angry, there were positions last year for the nursing students who finished half way through the year. Just none this year. I don't know what to do. It pains me to say it but I have even applied at about six rest homes and they are all filled up to.

I am thinking I might do some post grad study until the 2011 applications open in Sept. But that still means that I may not have work until Feb 2011.

Buggar it.

Portfolio

2010-04-19T09:58:00.002+12:00

My Internet has died, so unfortunately I am not able to get here as often as I would have liked, and school is soooo busy.

I am finishing my portfolio today, I have written over 6000 words which has been a bit overboard.

It is worth 60% of my final mark for the paper Leadership and Management.

I have one more week of study break and then am at a rest home with year one students for two weeks, then few more weeks study, then I am on electives and then I am finished. Arrrggghhh.

I will finish beginning of July and sit state July 20th.

Word of advice, if you have to put together a portfolio in your last year, start writing now, it is hard to be reflective on placements you did in year one. I wish I had recorded each experience as it happened, never mind.

Im scared.........

2010-03-18T10:19:00.002+13:00

When I was in year one I was the perfect student, when I was in year two I was the perfect student, and then year three standards have slipped pretty far, I still got two A- and one B+ last semester. This semester is not hard but I have no motivation, I am tired, I have had two kidney infections in the last two weeks. I have two assignments due, that I cant write because I cant keep my eyes open due to the medication I am on. Things in my life have changed and I feel like I have more to juggle now. I am scared about graduating, why did I choose a career that does shift work when I have two small children, am I even going to get a job, am I going to feel better soon so that I can work on my assignments, CV and portfolio, learn interview techniques, apply for a job, prepare for clinical placement (my last one). ARRRRGGGGHHHHH

OK that felt good to get it out, change it round now, everything is going to work out, I am going to graduate, I was suppose to become an RN, I was born to do it, I will get a job, the kid thing will work itself out, good positive thoughts out to the universe :)

Blah

2010-03-04T15:48:00.001+13:00

Tech is Blah.

OK I am just going to ramble

2010-02-01T11:55:00.002+13:00

I am scared I will not get a good New Grad position when I graduate, I keep getting visions of rest homes or Assessment, Treatment, and Rehabilitation (AT&R ward).

I love ED that is where I want to work, but they don't usually take New Grads halfway through the year, which is when I graduate. I was going to go to ICU for my last placement, but after talking to the RN that runs the NETP programme. She strongly suggests that I go to a ward for my last placement as that is where all the jobs will be, and I could miss out if I spent my elective in the ICU, when they will not be offering jobs.

She did say that if a New Grad position came up, they never put anyone in there who have not been there for there electives. So I would be in good stead if there was a placement as I went there for my last placement. ( I got really good feedback and told that they wanted me there as a new grad) BUT they just don't offer positions mid year. So if miracles happen maybe a position will come up and I could go for it, otherwise it will be a ward.

I don't know where to choose, I have three in mind orthopedics, a surgical ward that is mainly gynecology and urology or a cardiac ward. I really don't have a clue I have always stayed away from the wards, as I was not interested in that type of work. But now since the recession etc, etc, that is where I will more then likely spend my first 11 months as a RN.

Can anyone share with me what they liked / disliked about medical or surgical wards, or any recommendations on where to go, has anyone been to a orthopaedic ward? Did you enjoy it?

Holidays almost finished

2010-01-25T15:27:00.002+13:00

I go back for my final semester on the 15th Feb, although I was not looking forward to a twelve week holiday, it has been really nice. Christmas was lovely, nice and hot and sunny, beautiful food with nice family company. New Years was good, we spent four nights in Taupo, at my step fathers Bach.

I made a conscious effort to not do to much these holidays, as I guess I will not get a twelve week holiday like this again. I have spent the time with my children, read many books, and just taken each day as it comes.

I am still in disbelieve that I only have one more semester to go and I will have a degree, then I will sit state and become an RN, it is so exciting and scary!

Pain

2009-11-22T18:39:00.002+13:00

I walked 30 km today for a child cancer charity walk, it was very very painful. But for a good cause :)

Also

2009-11-09T20:53:00.002+13:00

It reminds me in so many ways that

I WILL NOT EVER NEVER BECOME A SUPERMARKET NURSE! :)

You know the kind who go to work, go home, go to work, go home. Mixed in with cooking tea, doing housework, etc.

Nursing is my passion, my calling and not just a job.

Opps, I am in no way putting people down who work in supermarkets because that is life, and people have to do that to support their families and I admire them in so many ways, to do that every single day, they do not moan, they just do it because that is what life is for them.

And it is bloody hard out there to make a living and support a family.

Sometimes when I pick my son up from preschool (it is across the road from the hospital). I watch nurses going to work, and they look miserable, and I have asked myself, is that what I am getting myself into? But I have come to realise that I would not be doing this to just have a job to make money, it is more then that.

Nursing is so so much more then that, and throughout my training, every single week it becomes something more, it is so hard to explain.

It changes who you are, the studying, the thinking, everything.

I wanted to post

2009-11-09T20:43:00.002+13:00

this from my friends old blog, she wrote the first bit and I wrote the second bit. I thought I would post it here as it reminds me about why I want to be an RN and I think it is one of my better posts, when my brain was not half dead from year three study. I know she will not mind me copying it from her blog.

Robots in nursing
I'm intend to write bits and pieces about cultural safety over the next ... whatever. I have started a bit about it, but wanted to post this little piece that I put in the initial blog. so I will. what do you think?Now, lots of us believe that you DO NOT nurse as some kind of robot - who simply completes tasks that help a patient get better. No, my type of nursing is where you use ALL of who you are, to connect with a patient allowing you to support them, in some way, in their journey towards health. Whether this is a 5 minute interaction with someone rushing through ED, that only allows a genuine smile and a touch, this may be enough to let that person know that someone cares, they are not alone in this big scary hospital. Robots cannot be genuine, only a human who knows herself can be.hmmmm
Posted by the star gurl at Wednesday, February 04, 2009
Labels: Cultural Safety - Kawa Whakaruruhau

1 comments:

RN2BE said...
My brain is starting to wake up, after such a long xmas break and I love it! I believe this 150%, I think until a person makes that breakthrough on BEGINNING to know themselves, finding out who they are, working out, etc. I feel they can not provide true nursing care, yes the actual physical stuff but not the whole holistic care, which nursing is.I started to say until a person FINDS OUT WHO THEY ARE, but I thought, no that is not quite right, I personally feel that a person is always growing and can always be searching for the true meaning of life. I feel that learning about ones self is a continual process that may take a life time, it may not or a life time may not even be long enough to figure it out. But making that first step on the path to self discovery is the most important and when you start to become aware of yourself, you naturally are able to become aware of others, which leads back to nursing and being able to provide the best care possible.OK I have rambled enough, nite :) P.S I have used I think, feel words because these are MY opinions and I know that some people that might read this might not agree with it. But that is the great thing about being human we are all entitled to our beliefs, values etc, which is another side of cultural safety, but that is another story :)

Two exams

2009-10-29T09:27:00.003+13:00

and then one more semester and I will be an RN (after state exam too, of course) I can't believe it!!!!!!!!!!!

I will have a degree, it is such an amazing feeling, knowing how close I am and yes it is actually going to happen :)

Then post grad study here I come

Last assignment for the year

2009-10-24T10:35:00.002+13:00

arrrgggghhhh, I cant be bothered!!!!!
It is Saturday and because I have mucked around for so long I am stuck doing it. I want to be finished by tomorrow, so I can start studying for my exams.

Nurse Jacki

2009-10-15T11:24:00.002+13:00

This just played here in NZ this week for the first time. I think it is suppose to be half hour episodes, but they are playing hour ones here (2 shows).

Anyway I really enjoyed it, found it to have a dark side, as well as pretty funny in some parts.

When it comes to summer in NZ there is nothing on tv, I have five channels but where I live only get three due to poor reception (in country). We can pay for sky which has heaps more, but as a student that does not really come into the budget.

At the moment all of my favourite shows have finished for the year: greys, lost, outrageous fortune. I cant think of anymore, ER is still playing (the last season).

While sitting here typing, I really should be doing my assignment, based on my clinical experience in the ED. We have to choose a condition / patient and pick three to four of what we think are the key nursing cares they were given. Then compare these (the nurse may have provided these cares or what we actually did, in accordance to hospital policy's) and compare them to best practice guidelines/ research etc.

I have decided to use chest pain. The four key areas of nursing care I am going to use are: assessment, pain management, ECG recording, O2 administration. I think, I change my mind frequently about what cares to do. Also because the assessment would have been done in triage, and then the patient would have been brought through to the ED. I have chosen my patient, and got consent etc, but everything does not seem to be fitting into place yet.

After this assignment I have two exams and then summer holidays for three months, then one more semester and I am FINISHED !!!!!! Hopefully I will find a good job, there are not many to pick from here due to the recession, and I can not move out of the area. There will be jobs in the hospital and I am sure I will be able to get one but it will not be in the area I am interested in because they take intakes for these at the start of the year not midway when we are due to finish. Anyway I will find out more around March next year.

I forgot

2009-10-07T10:13:00.001+13:00

One of the biggest highlights was flying with the flight nurse for a shift, it was great we were gone 7.5 hours in total, that included two small towns and one large city.

Definitely what I aspire to be doing in a few years time :)

Finished

2009-10-07T09:58:00.001+13:00

I have just finished five weeks in the ED. It was fantastic and I loved every minute of it, definitely my type of nursing. However they will not be taking new grads when I finish, they take them now. After careful consideration instead of going back there for my elective placement I am going to ICU, cant wait.

Busy busy

2009-08-25T11:26:00.001+12:00

Classes are all over, exam time and next week I am on placement for five weeks: ED, very excited but very nervous.

Better go do some work:)

Tena Koutou

2009-07-28T18:45:00.003+12:00

Eight days........that is how many is left until my literature review is due, and yes I am procrastinating, since logging onto computer I have read 1oo Maori words every New Zealander should know, checked emails, facebook, moodle ( tech site) and basically mucked around.

I am also a terrible blogger, d o not get here much now, but I will try to more frequently.

I have been sick for just under a couple of weeks, with some kind of flu even though I had my flu injection, so I have missed a couple of days of tech because of this , I am going back tomorrow, I hate missing classes, it takes so long to catch up again.

Haere ra

School is ...............

2009-07-12T11:38:00.003+12:00

Pretty hectic, I have finished week one, which zoomed past.

In three weeks I have a literature review due. I have chosen the topic 'Best nursing practice in the administration of sucrose in neonates / premature infants'. I am not sure what angle I am taking for this and I still am not even sure on how to write a literature review, we have not had to do one yet.

Patho is good, very interesting, and the other paper middle and older adult (MOA) is ok. On the 31st of August I start working in ED for five weeks for my practicum placement. That will come up in no time, the last week went so fast.

Wahoo!

2009-06-21T19:09:00.002+12:00

I am officially a year three student nurse :)

After a two week break, I will be taking three papers:
Pathophysiology
Nursing Research
Nursing middle and older adults

I am still waiting on a few marks to come back.

My motivation is back

2009-06-14T09:14:00.002+12:00

I guess that eventually happens when you know in order to pass you need to actually do some work!

I am currently finishing my last assignment for year two and studying for two exams, the first one is tommorrow.

By next Tuesday I will be officially finished year two, a two week holiday and OH MY GOSH I am in year three I can hardly believe it. When I started year one, year three seemed like a far of dream and now I am actually there. I am really looking forward to it, I have my text books and study guides, and planned to start reading in the holidays, just so I feel like I am ahead with the work load when I start.

Anyway better go, family to organize, daughter off to party and the rest are going our for a few hours to give me some peace, ahhhhh I can hardly wait.

MOTIVATION

2009-05-31T13:48:00.002+12:00

I need some, I have to study, I have to finish my PNR and the family study. I cant be bothered. But time is ticking. It is freezing and raining leaves. The first day of winter starts tomorrow, summer went so fast.

I am going to miss the babies

2009-05-28T21:43:00.001+12:00

One more day to go and I am finished my clinical placement, I really enjoyed the work I did there and the patients that I was looking after but not so much the nursing staff. Anyway just part of the learning experience.

Very tired goodnight.

one week down two more to go

2009-05-16T15:49:00.002+12:00

I have just finished my first week in SCBU, the first few days were blah, but yesterday was great! I really enjoyed it and the nurse I was working with was really good. I got a really good report filled out, so am happy.

Have made a start on the family study and practical nursing report but that is about it, I am feeling soooo tired and cant even keep my eyes open at night when I sit down in front of the computer to do some work on them.

I don't know if I mentioned I have two more placements to go before I graduate and I had a meeting a few weeks ago. To discuss my plans for this and what type of practicums I should do, and I am so excited to say that I am going to ED in August!! The hospital that I would like to work at when I finish offers a new grad package in ED/ AAU and this is what I would like to do when I finish my nursing degree. My ultimate goal is to continue to study after I graduate and work my way up so that I can apply to become a flight nurse. I am also interested in mental health and paeds. But have decided that I would like to start in critical care nursing first. That's the one great thing about nursing, there are so many avenues that you can go down. I am so excited I am almost in year three!!! I cant believe it!!

One and half days to go untill

2009-05-09T14:34:00.002+12:00

I start practicum placement. I have heaps of stuff to do before then, but am starting to look forward to it.

I finished the conflict essay this week and did the two presentations. We did our Marae stay, so things are getting ticked off the list.

Next on list is family study and PNR.

I had to play two games of netball this morning, it was freezing, we had to be at courts at 8:15am. But it amazing how warm you get from just going for a short jog around the place. I still have a sore foot but not feeling to sore now. I played GD, WD and a tiny bit of WA. We lost but not by much about 4 points and we are really improving. Just bit worried how I am going to fit practice into practicum and study for next week because I am really enjoying it and have toned up quite abit.

Im sore

2009-05-03T13:34:00.002+12:00

Played netball yesterday, we lost 12/ 25 it was a hard game at half time we were winning by 7/ 5. But I think due to our relatively new attempt at this game ( I have not played for 15 years) we just got to tired and some of us had injuries from during the week. So we just lost steam, well I know I did I played WD for the whole game and by the last quarter I was exhausted. This is due to my lack of fitness I think, anyway I am thinking of taking this week of, so I can concentrate on my study. It has been pushed aside for netball lately, we have been practicing heaps. It hurts to walk let alone jump around on a court, so I think I will have a break for the week. My clinical starts next week and that is more important to me then netball, I will be on my feet for 8.5 hour days (dont want to be doing that the way I am feeling at moment), and juggling kids, assignments etc, It is going to be an exhausting three week. To tell you the truth I am really worried, I feel like I have so much work to do and time is going too fast.

Anyway better go, I am trying to find a journal article on 'strategies to resolve conflict using the win- win approach, so far have had no luck. I have one but it is older then 2004 and the tutor really wants up to date research.

On my to do list:
1. Finish conflict essay ( Due 26th May) about another 800 words to go
2. Go over presentation for Marae stay this week ( 7th May)
3.Touch up my facilitating a therapeutic group assignment (due 12th June)
4. Arrrrh do my family study, huge assignment :( (due 16th June)
5. Arrrh do my PNR (Practical nurisng report) can only do while on clinical (9th June)
6. Study for two exams 15th and 18th of June
7. Finish year 2
8. Start year 3

Im over it...

2009-04-28T19:49:00.002+12:00

Yeah netball, had practice tonight, suppose to have it again tomorrow and the next night too.

Half way through another essay and have almost finished my plan for facilitating a therapeutic group.

Two weeks till practicum, I am not excited, you can probably tell.

Netball

2009-04-26T19:00:00.002+12:00

I am playing netball for the first time in 15 years, I was sick for the first game and we lost 44 / 5 (yeah I know pretty terrible) . I played my first game yesterday and we won 25/ 12. So it was a great day :)

We have been training heaps and it is really paying off, I am really enjoying it. I am just having trouble with the family/ study/ netball/ and everything else etc balance. So I am trying to get that sorted this week, because unfortunately study has been put aside with all the craziness of netball and I am feeling a tiny bit (OK bit more then that) stressed at what I still have to get done for school.

Anyway night. Yay Greys is on tonight

Hello :)

2009-04-20T17:26:00.002+12:00

My computer has been getting fixed, and I have not had a chance to come on here from tech.

Tech is pretty hectic at moment, well actually I am on two week holiday, but I have lots of assignments to write in three weeks before I start placement.

It is hard to believe but I have basically finished Year 2, teaching wise, just have assignments, exams and placement, but all of the lectures have finished. Feels like it was only just Christmas.

Anyway small post, little children are calling.

Oh I got a good mark back for my first essay, 90.5 %, which is an A+, Yay!!

Flu vaccinations

2009-04-04T19:25:00.002+13:00

I got mine this week and decided to get the kids done as well. We have never had one before, but last year they caught Influenza B and were sick for a week, not like ever before, they didn't move from bed. So I decided to have them vaccinated this year. Apparently they are saying that it is going to be a pretty bad year this year for the flu and heaps of people are going to get it. I am on clinical, when flu season starts and I know so many students that have missed a few days to a week because of being sick, that I do not want to risk it this year. The vaccine only covers three strains of the virus, that they think will come to New Zealand ( I have no idea how they work that out) so you can still catch other bugs and it takes two weeks to build up enough antibodies, to protect you, so you can still get sick until then.

I also completed my third hep B injection last month, so this week I had a blood test to make sure I was immune and I am. So that is good, I did have the vaccination about 10 years ago but for some reason, it had worn off or other reasons etc.

Had something else to say but cant remember.

Have been pinching myself (not literally) that in a few months I will be in year three. Woohoo! The thought of becoming an RN is in my sights and becoming reality.

Day off

2009-03-25T13:37:00.002+13:00

from the study, I am half way through the essay, and am looking forward to getting it finished. I had a read through it last night for about the millionth time and still found things to change lol, typical :)

Good night on TV tonight Lost and a show called underbelly which is based on a true story about a guy called Mr Asia, the story takes place in Australia, but many of the characters were from NZ. It is a bit shocking in some places, but overall pretty good, I like true stories.

Few more days left and then back to tech for 3 weeks, then two weeks holiday and then I am at placement for three weeks. It was four weeks of four days but they have changed it to 3 weeks of 5 days. The first and last week, I am doing 7am to 3:30pm and then the middle week is 2:30pm till 11pm.

I just hope I can get all of my assignments done, so I will not be stressing while I am there.

Hello :)

2009-03-23T10:20:00.002+13:00

I have not been here for a while, life is going along as it does. Children getting sick and having to stay home from school, so essays can not be done, three year olds turning from nice sweet boys into little terrors, locking keys in house, which means locking yourself out while still in pj's (yes that happened yesterday), an infestation of fleas, from all the humid heat in the last couple of months, ewww yuck, but thankfully problem is fixed and I am no longer having nightmares about fleas.

Sooo I am currently working on an essay, and I do not know when I changed my style, of producing essays, but for some reason I have become a real perfectionist this time around. For instance I spent 4 hours last week doing the essay and I only wrote 400 words in that time, as I had to make sure it sounded right and was perfect to me. Normally I am a get it written, read it a couple of times to check for mistakes and hand it in, but not this time, I am slowly meticulously plodding along to get it as good as I can.

This is the last week of my four week study break, not to pleased, the time has gone way to fast, and I thought I would have achieved way more, but never mind.

I have made a decision

2009-03-09T12:14:00.002+13:00

I am sticking with the portfolio. I have chosen three news articles: 'Government urged to act on child poverty', 'Lighting up? Not in our back yard!', and 'Prepare for new break, breastfeeding laws'.

I have to critically examine the impact that these three diverse health topics have on Aotearoa NZ and consider the cultural/ethnic or social or political or economic influences (One or more, of these things) that may impact the impact health issues.

I have collected about 8 to 10 references for each article and I am only allowed to write 800 to 900 words per article.

Today I am starting on the childhood poverty article, my goal is to finish it. I am staying at tech till 3pm and then off to pick kiddies up, yummy lasagna for tea (made ahead) and good TV on tonight (Desperate housewives) and I still have some choc in fridge, all round good day, I say!

:)

The plan is working

2009-03-04T13:12:00.002+13:00

This is my third day in a row at tech, even though I have no classes.

AND I just handed my first assignment of the year in, the relief is enormous once you get an assignment done and handed in, is it not?

I am well ahead of schedule, it is not due till the end of March, but things will be crazy when classes start back, so if I do not do my assignments now, the chances of a nervous breakdown later on are very high.

I am now onto the portfolio (I decided to stick with it since I had already collected all of the info for it). Oh great just having a read through and the words critically examine are staring at me. We have been taught this, yes but am I any good at it? NO

OK, plan B I am going to go and look at a couple of assignments that are on desk reference and then make my mind up, I want to start this assignment tomorrow. I am on a role here, and while the motivation is still coming, I am going to keep the work coming.

Lost is on tonight :)

Oh

2009-03-01T14:01:00.001+13:00

and on a depressing note it is the first day of Autumn today :(

So sad, I love Summer, and it has gone way to fast :(

Yay!

2009-03-01T13:51:00.001+13:00

I have four weeks off, while half the class go out on practical. The time I have off is for doing assignments and study. I go out in May for four weeks.

So I am starting off on a good foot. Tomorrow I am going to tech as normal like I normally would and after a meeting with my lecturer about the family study we have to do. I am going to get as much of my first assignment done as possible.

Then pick the kids up and do the housework, dinner, family thing. I want to go to tech as much as possible because if I just come home after dropping the kids off I know I will just muck around. I have just decided (right now on computer) that I am going to go to tech 3 days a week and the other 2 days will be spend here at home, doing bit of study and I have a few things around the house that I need to get done. However my main priority is my assignments. I have been given an amazing four weeks of study and I intend to use it. It could be so easy to sit back for four weeks and procrastinate.

Greys is on tonight :) yay!!!!

emotional....

2009-02-26T19:57:00.002+13:00

That has been me this week, its had been crazy, every lecture has gotten to me in some way, that I feel the tears welling up. I look around and nobody else seems to be crying or overly upset. But I just can't seem to help myself, every story seems to touch me in some way, whether it is a story about CF, the Treaty of Waitangi or stories about midwifes from 20 years ago. I get emotional, oh well.

Pre Practicum day tomorrow (even though I do not go out till May) and then that is me for fours weeks, while half the class goes out on their practicum, I will spend the time doing my assignments. I am glad my placement in SCBU is not till May, as well as the fact it needed to be for childcare reasons. But I feel that there is no way I would have been prepared from the theory point of view. Babies are whole other kettle of fish.

Night

Exciting :)

2009-02-18T19:57:00.002+13:00

Lost starts tonight ! It has been a really good week for TV in NZ this week. Grey's started on Sun, Mon was Desperate housewives and tonight Lost. Just waiting for ER.

For Health and Kawawhakaruruhau, we have three things to complete to pass the paper. An essay/ portfolio, presentation and exam. The essay/ portfolio is worth 45% and the exam 55%, while the presentation is a pass or fail.

Sooo I am trying to decide between the essay or portfolio. I HATE essays but the portfolio involves quite a bit more work. For the essay, one topic is chosen, while the portfolio involves researching three topics in newspapers, media etc. The topics are to be about health, affecting NZ society currently or recently and they need to be diverse. The three topics I have chosen for the portfolio are: The issue of being able to breastfeed at work, Banning smoking in playgrounds and child poverty in NZ. I have also collected about 6 articles / TV news items for each topic. However I saw a sample of a portfolio today and it was basically the work of two essays, so I am thinking of changing to the essay. I think I will probably focus on childhood poverty in NZ, as there is heaps of info available on this , I already have various articles, so will need to focus on text books and research articles, to be able to complete the essay.

I will decide tomorrow.
Night :)

cruising on through

2009-02-17T19:06:00.002+13:00

The week is going pretty good, I do not have to much to say. I have been pretty slack at blogging lately but will have a good catch up soon.

Had a pretty good day, I got a good start on an assignment. The classes were interesting today too. I am really loving communication, it is a real thinking class. I thought it was going to be the same old boring stuff again. You know the stuff you learn in high school about different kinds of communication (open, closed, body posture, eye contact, blah blah) but it is way more then that and it is really specific to nursing. I find myself really thinking about the activities and exercises we do and I am going to make a really good attempt to use everything I learn in my placement this year. A lot of the classes have focused on physical care in the past but this is a paper that really puts the icing on the cake, so to speak. I feel that it really helps to bring nursing care up from good to really good / excellent. If that makes any sense.

Night

Goals before class starts at 1pm :) or at least half of

2009-02-11T11:18:00.002+13:00

1. Find a family developmental theorist.

2. Find a nurse or midwifery model.

3. Find three articles towards my portfolio on smoking, breastfeeding and unemployment due to the recession in NZ (they have to be three diverse topics)

4. Info on legal stuff for my childbearing paper - the family study one.

5. photocopy all of my assignments, put them in order of which are due first. I have done this, ha ha, the one that does not involve any thinking.

Week is going pretty good, I am actually enjoying the communicating paper the best, I thought it would be boring but it is fun, the lecturer is fun and it is a real thinking class, mainly looking at yourself, which I don't tend to do much, so it has been hard but pretty good too.

Good news, I got exactly what I wanted, I am in the second lot of placements (these are in May) and I am going to SCBU. Yay!!! This is one of the places I have said I wanted to go, since I started the course, and there are so many students, so I am very lucky to be going there. I am very grateful :)

Ok better get to work

First day back :(

2009-02-09T09:29:00.001+13:00

And yes I really cant be bothered. The first class starts at 10 am. Sorry my mood is still low, so that is it for me today.

Oh one more thing I am in love :) with Edward Cullen. Yes I know crazy, he is a vampire and what more a fictional character but I just cant help myself (I saw movie and read first book in weekend).

Weather

2009-02-02T21:00:00.002+13:00

I have just read a fellow bloggers post, Her family has been without power for 6 days and suffering through freezing conditions. I can't even imagine what that must be like or how I would even deal with that, and I really hope I never have too.

Yesterday the area in which I lived in reached 37 degrees Celsius (I think is about 98 Fahrenheit), and everyone was complaining, but how would we have felt in the conditions that are happening in Kentucky? Through this blog I have gotten to know people from all around the world, just through reading their blogs and it really puts things into perspective. My last blog was about something silly and nothing in comparison to what is happening in Kentucky. I guess I just had a reality check that is all.

I can't shut my mind off

2009-02-02T20:40:00.002+13:00

I have had a really bad day, well it started it out pretty good. Ummm how do I talk about this without going into all the details. Oh I don't know I have typed and re typed this sentence.

I'm going to go now, I just can't get it out right now.

I am feeling pretty good today

2009-01-30T11:47:00.000+13:00

I had an appointment this morning that I was worried about but hallelujah it went wonderfully more then wonderfully actually. So I am in a good mood :) and it feels great!

I have been focusing on positive thoughts and putting them out into the universe (anyone read the secret or similar books) well you know it really makes you feel good and positive about life, which I think is pretty important.

My daughter starts school on Mon, these holidays have gone soooo fast. I was actually dreading them as they are so long, but it feels like I still have not had enough of a break. I have one week holiday left after primary school starts.

Fri 11:52am

25 things about me

2009-01-26T19:55:00.001+13:00

Ok, this is from some of the other blogs that I follow. I hope I can think of 25 things.

1. I am a bit of a clean freak, I have two showers a day, morning and night.

2. I was accepted into Nursing when I was 17 but stupidly did not go through with it, I then started it when I was 20 and pulled out and finally, at age 24 I started it and now I am halfway through. And there is nothing that will stop me from finishing it now.

3. When I was six I named our new cat, after me (yes my Mum let me lol) and she lived till I was 17.

4. My favourite book in the whole world would be Tully, there is something about that character that really got to me.

5. I have never really eaten red meat, apart from mince in patties, lasagna, meatballs, etc.

6. I love eggs on toast, and love the yolk runny.

7. I hate coffee and tea, and only rarely drink green tea or hot chocolates in winter. Otherwise summer it is manly water.

8. I only wear makeup when I go out, to party, etc. This is rarely, maybe a few times in 6 months. And I never ever wear it to bed.

9. I can't see very well so wear contacts or glasses all the time, unless reading.

10. I hate cockroaches and will cry if someone brings one near me.

11. When I was little I loved the Never ending Story and Labyrinth. I named another cat falcoe from the never ending story.

12. And would you believe the cat named falcoe had a sister which I named S (that is my daughters name) OK I am starting to realise how strange this whole cat thing is.

13. When I was pregnant with S I loved the smell of our washing powder and toothpaste, it was so good I wanted to eat it. How ever I did not.

14. When I was 15 I moved out of home for 3 months.

15. I love the beach and wish I could get there more.

16. I want to volunteer in a third world country when the kids are grown. Maybe Africa for at least 6 months.

17. I want to travel to as many places before I die, at this stage I can only count 2 countries on my list of places to go. Opps I mean on my places that I have been. NZ and Australia. How many countries are there? lol

18. I have had two MI's the first April 04 and the second Feb 07. They first thought it was the contraception pill but then the second one happened for no reason. I have had 2 angiograms and I have normal coronary arteries. After many tests which did not show much. They now query a blood disorder or coronary artery spasm. My blood is being tested in Sydney, Texas and here in NZ. At this stage they still have no answers. I am healthy and well and my only medication is 150 mg aspirin daily. I pray I never have to go through anything like it again.

19. As well as that I had a Pyloplasty (I know i have spelt it wrong) in August 06 after, I cant be bothered looking for exact numbers, but it would have been another 6 - 8 admissions with GA, because of blockages, pain, etc. In Nov, the surgeon finally realised that there was a piece of tissue left over from surgery which was stopping urine flow down the ureter. So another stent was put in, this remained there until Jan where I was told I would be in for an overnight admission, and straight forward procedure to remove the tissue. He cut my renal artery and I then spent 10 days in ICU. Missing on starting my nursing, I had to post pone to July. As I was also unable to walk much, due to pain and bleeding, for 6 weeks until the new stent was removed that they put in to make sure I healed probably. This was when I had the second MI also. Needless to say it felt like I hardly saw my children as I was in hospital so much. It was quite sad because it became normal for them that Mum was in or on way to hospital. It was a hard time but I got thorough it and know that the experience will make me a better nurse for it. (that is not to say that people who have not been in hospital wont be great nurses, I am just making that statement form my experiences and what I feel about myself) OK that was a long one.

20. At the same time my partner was in hospital for cellulitus. He cut his foot open on a farm motorbike, the doctor did not give him antibiotics. He was in hospital for three weeks. The nurses thought it was quite funny but they were so nice to us, at one stage we were even on the same ward. I had my own room, they brought us a TV, I was to sick to care, but Simon quite enjoyed being able to come and visit me.

21. I think one day I would love one more baby. I love the names Freya, Roomy (sounds like roamy), and Shelby and for boys Max, Luca and Thomas.

22. I would love to be a flight nurse at some stage of my nursing career.

23. I really want to go on and do post graduate work, I would love to get my masters and then my PHD.

24. I read a really good book called conversations with god and everything just seemed to make sense. I believe that there is more to life then being alive and then just dying and that we are gone forever. There must be more to it.

25. I love thunderstorms and stormy weather.

Oh for the days of being able to stay in bed

2009-01-25T07:46:00.001+13:00

Remember the before we had kids days? when you got to choose when to get up, when if you felt the need to go back to bed for a couple more hours you could or when you felt the need to have a pj day and could stay in bed most of the day.

It is Sun morning, and I think it must have been before 7am when I was woken up. My son o just does not seem to have grasped the concept of a sleep in.

Not sure of our plans today, a relaxing Sunday??? yeah right.

Sun 7:53 am

Lovely day

2009-01-22T19:39:00.000+13:00

Silly computer ate my post this morning. I was having a whine about someone that is getting to me. You know the type, I call them energy suckers. Anyway it is complicated and they are doing it so subtly that nobody else would have a clue. So there is no way I can say anything, as I would look like the baddie. So I will just vent here. But as I decided this morning I was going to let it go and I did, but I guess not quite yet ha? As I am still talking about it. Anyway moving on.

I had a lovely day, I was invited over to lunch with a nursing friend. I took the kids and we had a really nice time. She is so lovely and I think out of all the people I have met in my lifetime she would have to be one of the most genuine.

I was graced with an actual sleep in this morning, as the kids stayed at their grandparents. Do you think I could sleep in, no way. Always the way a rare treat and you cant even have it. So anyway I decided to get up and I did an hour of exercise. I am also proud to say that this is not my first attempt since my break over the last few months either. I went for a run the other day, which was pretty good. It hurt to walk for two days but I guess that is the price you pay sometimes,LOL, especially when I have not exactly stuck to my exercise plan for the last few months.

Thurs 7:49pm

I think I have it figured out

2009-01-20T21:43:00.001+13:00

Every time the rooster came near our fence, I threw cups of water at it, and sure enough it ran off. So as long as it does not hold a grudge and find another way to get into our property, I will keep an eye on the fence and make sure I have a cup of water handy. I think that might do the trick.

Had a pretty good night my parents and grandma (who is over from Scotland) came for dinner, and spent a few hours at our house. We had a game of pictureka (one of S Xmas presents), and just a general catch up.

Tomorrow a friend from tech who is in the same year as me, is coming over. The papers that I am doing this semester, she did last semester and vice versa. So we are showing each other our essays and assignments for the papers we have done, that the other is about to start. It is good, to be able to have a quick flick through someone elses papers, to get an idea of what the lecturers are after. Mind you this only helps if the person has been given a good mark, there would not be much point at looking at someones essay who had only been given 50% or something.

Night
Tue 9:52 pm

Roosters

2009-01-20T14:19:00.001+13:00

There are a few farm animals at our new house, and I was OK with this until yesterday when S and I went over to the paddock, so we could clean the windows that face the paddock. The rooster flew at S and pecked and scratched her. Need to say we made a hasty escape. The sheep were nice, all they did were sniff us and lick my feet, Ewww.

Anyway, today we were sitting in the lounge and S came running in and said "Mum the chicken is coming into the house", I thought she was joking but got up to check and it was making its way through into the kitchen, arhhhh. I managed to get to the door and shut it. I then watched the rooster proceed to eat my vegetable garden, so we decided that maybe we should throw water at it to get it to go away. That didn't work, instead it ran at S (she was in front of me) and pecked her again, I didn't know what to do. I just picked her up by the arms and pulled her through the door. I knew that it was not scared of me as yesterday I had tried to scare it but it flew at me as well.

Well the chicken is back in it's paddock, however I am still scared. Is this chicken on a mission to torment us? I have closed all the windows to only a gap, in case it tries to fly in and I have a load of washing ready to go out, but I am to scared in case it comes back.

So how do I make sure it stays away? the cats were useless they just lay on the grass and ignored it.

Tue 2:29pm

Let it rain, Let it rain

2009-01-19T18:52:00.000+13:00

It feels like it is going to rain soon, you know that feeling of the air pressure changing and the smell of rain coming. I love that feeling, especially before a really heavy downpour or thunderstorm. I love the rain at the end of the day when all the washing is in and you have settled in for the night, but not sooner :)

Not a very exciting day today, just housework, that sort of thing.

My favourite radio DJ's came back on this morning, they had a three week holiday. I really love listening to their show during the week, when I am getting ready for the day. They have a show Mon to Fri, 6 am to 10am.

Also another show is starting back in about 5 Min's after about a month break, Shortland Street, it is a NZ drama. That I think has been going for about 17 or more years. Not the greatest of television but kinda addictive, with all the crazy storylines.

Mon 7:57 pm

It is hot again, today

2009-01-17T21:13:00.000+13:00

about 30 degrees Celsius. We had a really nice swim this afternoon, maybe for just over an hour, really nice. I love it when you hop back into your clothes after you have been swimming, that nice feeling of freshness and that nice feeling of being so comfortable.

I have made plans to go for a run in the morning, at this stage it is all go but you know me, I will let you know if it happened :)

We took my grandmother on another picnic yesterday about an hour away from here, towards Taupo (not that that will mean much). It is an old farm and scrub lands that have been turned into gardens. When you arrive you get given a map and all the gardens have really neat names like the moon view, the Dee, the broad walk, still water pond. There is a cafe and a labyrinth. I made a picnic, it was really lovely. Although I think the heat may have gotten to her though, after all she is coming from winter in Scotland, which at the moment is minus 3 degrees Celsius.

Anyway goodnight, boring post, but thought I would call in anyhow.

Sat 9:27 pm

I brought

2009-01-14T13:37:00.000+13:00

some really comfy pants today, and they were half price so that was a bonus. I didn't feel so bad spending money, it's a bargain if their on sale, well that's what I like to tell myself anyway.

I feel pretty organized for school, have my stationary ready, I brought a new bag before Christmas for my books and things. The only thing I have left to do, is print out all my notes for two papers and get them bound. That way I have all my notes together and they are easier to keep track , also no heavy folders to lug around. I stole the idea from a nursing friend.

I started reading one of my textbooks last night, I don't think I will get into another book (fiction) before I start back. I made a pact with myself to only read fiction etc in holidays. It has worked out pretty good, I don't feel torn between having to study but wanting to finish a book. I read a couple of good books these holiday. My highlight was world without end.

And I have actually started my assignment, so that is good. The kids are going to my parents for the day tomorrow so hopefully I can get a real chunk completed.

Wed 1:44pm

Text books

2009-01-13T19:11:00.002+13:00

I brought my textbooks today for the semester.

They are:

Patient and person: developing interpersonal skills in nursing (communication paper)

Understanding health inequalities in Aotearoa, NZ and which I
already have: Cultural safety in Aotearoa NZ (these are for Health and Kawa whakaruruhau)

Introduction to maternity and paediatric nursing and the childbearing and children's study guide.

Not to bad cost just under $300.

It was quite funny because previously getting my textbooks was exciting, but the feeling this time was, here we go again heaps of work and study.

I also got my student ID but could not get pack with diary and calender, etc. It is not ready till Feb.

I think I also have to organise to do my first aid certificate. I think it is due to expire in Feb, they only last two years and you can not go out on clinical without one. In saying that though nobody has ever actually checked if mine is valid, wont leave it though, as this time would be the time I bet I would probably be caught out.

Bit late but

2009-01-10T19:51:00.001+13:00

anyway.... I am going to try and choose some new years resolutions.

ummmm

1. Stop eating choc and exercise, as I am 6 kg's heavier then when O was 6 months old. I feel quite depressed about it actually, I went out for dinner last night and tried on about 4 different outfits, before I found something that I was comfortable in. If you saw me in person you would tell me not to be stupid, I do not need to lose weight but the fact is, that I am not fitting any of my clothes now and I seem to be buying clothes that I don't look good in and I dont wear them, because my mind seems to be set at the size I have been for my whole life and I think that I will get back there soon. Bare in mind I have been saying this for about a year now, ha ha ha. I know what I have to do but I lack motivation, I cant be bothered exercising, I love food and I know I cant starve myself for long, so I have to come up with a plan. Anyway enough of this, I have never been this person to complain about weight, never, I remember in high school when my friends were dieting etc and I was like ha whats up with that, now I know how they felt.

2. To not sweat the small stuff, don't think I need to elaborate on this.

3. Get my book The Secret back off my friend, read it again and follow what it says.

4. To be a really good mother, to keep going on, the way I began.

5. To keep on track with study.

6. And to try and really get to know my self more, who am I? I think I have learnt heaps about myself this last couple of years (will explain more further, sooner or later why) but still need to know more, and I know that it may take years and it will, but I hope to learn more this year.

Goodnight Sat 8:02 pm

My timetable for semester two of year two....

2009-01-08T18:47:00.001+13:00

is pretty good :)

Mon:
10 -12pm Childbearing and families lecture
1-3 pm Sociology of health and kawa whakaruruhau 2 lecture (mouth full I know)
3-5 pm Professional communication in nursing lecture (this will be the worst I think)

Tue:
1-3 pm Professional communication lecture
3-5 pm Childbearing and families

Wed:
8 - 10 am Professional communication lecture
1-3 pm Sociology of health and kawa 2

Thurs:
10-12 am Childbearing and families
1-3 pm sociology of health and kawa 2

I pretty happy, would have been stuffed if all 8am starts, but thankfully not (Sophie/ school etc).

We took my Grandma to the beach yesterday, she is over here for 5 weeks from Scotland. It was a pretty good day, apart from when I didn't think that I would have to worry about the sunscreen on my legs and man you should see them, they are so sore, red and hurt like hell. Should know by now. The kids are fine, wore their rash suits, sunscreen and they always wears hats. NZ sun is a killer, really bad UV's from the hole in the ozone. At schools and day cares they can't play outside if they do not have a hat on. They also put sunscreen on them, never like that in my day but there are so much cases of melanoma now that they have really gotten behind the whole skin care and sunscreen campaigns. Which is really good, there is even an ad on TV, cant remember the exact pictures, just the words on the screen, "never let your kids get burnt" and then really graphic scenes of people with skin cancer, etc. It is quite powerful.

Thurs 7 pm

I love

2009-01-05T19:48:00.001+13:00

rum and coke. I have just enjoyed two glasses, in a nice quiet house. The kids were asleep at 6:30 pm, I did the dishes, had a shower and plonked myself down on the couch. Where I indulged myself, with a nice drink. Ever since S was born 5+ years ago, I have not really consumed alcohol, but in the last couple of months. I have really enjoyed having a couple of drinks at the end of the day to relax and unwind, I only do this a couple of times a week, but I really enjoy it.

I went to tech today and sorted out what books I need this semester, I also found 9 (I just counted them, lol) books for my assignment that I am planning on doing these holidays. They are sitting on my coffee table staring at me. I sorted out my study cupboard and organised things. Then I found the info etc, for the assignment. It has already been 5 weeks of holidays and I only have another 5 to go, I am such a procrastinator. Anyway at the moment my plan is to hop of here and get a start on this assignment :) I will let you know tomorrow if that happened, night.

Mon 7:54pm

Yesterday

2009-01-03T14:40:00.000+13:00

I finished World without end, I really enjoyed it, and was sad to be finished. Sometimes I do not like finishing books, it feels like there is a empty void. I keep thinking about the characters and then realise that I am finished the book and they are actually fictional. No I am not crazy lol. I picked up a Marian Keyes book last night but after WWE, it does not seem like it will be good enough. I have some other books on the book shelf I have not read yet: Anna Karenina (spelt wrong), A couple of Bryce Courtney's. Above is my a picture of my book shelf, I estimate that I have read about 3/4 of these. There are a few that have been there for years, but sometimes I think that if you do not read a book straight away, you may never get around to it. You know that book shelf seems so much smaller on computer but when you sit next to it, it feels like you have quite a lot of books.

It is hot today

2009-01-02T15:19:00.001+13:00

29 degrees Celsius.

Happy new years, we had a pretty good one, I was invited to a BBQ with some friends from tech, it was lovely. She lives at the beach, so we sat in front of the most beautiful setting, and ate and drunk. Then we went to beep beep ( which is a wharf area that has been turned into restaurants, pubs etc) I had not been out for six years for new years, and had a plan to drink responsibly and not have a hangover. I am proud to say it worked. I went to bed at 3am, woke at 7am, and wahlaa no hangover, tired but did not feel awful.

Just over a month to go until I start second semester of year two. I finally got my marks and timetable. I got one A-, one B and one B-, (which was 80 %, 75 % and 65%) not the best, but at least I passed.

Timetable is good only one 8am start on a Wed, so I not too worried about having to get S to school and me to tech. There are a couple of 5pm finishes, I was worried because I heard that S's school was stopping the after school programme, but found out that they are carrying it on,which is a huge relief, so Big S can get her and O at 4pm, when he finishes work.

The only thing I am worried about is that the first lot of practical is three weeks after we start back, it goes for a month and is right when big S is harvesting (80 + hours a week), as he is the one that looks after the kids the most (all grandparents work etc) I emailed the practicum manager and asked If I could be put in the second lot of practicum (in May, this is big S's quiet season and he is going to take couple of weeks holiday for when I do 7am to 3pm, we can manage 3pm to 11 pm, it is just the early mornings with getting kids to school etc). Anyway she said she could not promise anything, she actually really annoys me because I know of so many people that just walk into her office and demand that they be changed for such and such a reason, and when I send her a really polite email way before Christmas, she cant even promise anything. Anyway I have said what is bothering me, so I am going to try and keep it out of my mind and wait until placements are up before I really start worrying.

Fri 3:47pm

I really love my new home

2008-12-22T20:04:00.002+13:00

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

2008-12-14T22:19:00.001+13:00

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

2008-12-11T20:10:00.000+13:00

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 :)

2008-12-11T19:44:00.000+13:00

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

2008-12-10T19:21:00.000+13:00

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

2008-12-08T09:31:00.000+13:00

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

2008-12-04T21:45:00.000+13:00

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

2008-11-25T15:29:00.001+13:00

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

2008-11-24T11:51:00.000+13:00

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

2008-11-20T20:11:00.000+13:00

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 :)

2008-11-20T19:41:00.000+13:00

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

2008-11-18T19:25:00.000+13:00

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

2008-11-12T20:05:00.000+13:00

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,

2008-11-10T20:02:00.000+13:00

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

2008-11-05T20:21:00.001+13:00

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

2008-11-04T08:14:00.000+13:00

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...

2008-11-03T12:44:00.000+13:00

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

2008-11-03T09:08:00.001+13:00

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

2008-11-01T20:07:00.001+13:00

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...

2008-10-28T20:35:00.000+13:00

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

2008-10-27T09:19:00.000+13:00

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

2008-10-26T14:28:00.000+13:00

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 :)

2008-10-23T20:44:00.000+13:00

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

2008-10-22T12:21:00.000+13:00

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

2008-10-19T10:32:00.000+13:00

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

2008-10-17T16:29:00.001+13:00

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

2008-10-16T21:18:00.001+13:00

here is 9:19 pm, thursday night.

Feeling pleased

2008-10-16T20:59:00.000+13:00

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

2008-10-13T10:03:00.002+13:00

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 :)

2008-10-11T13:50:00.001+13:00

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

2008-10-08T19:57:00.000+13:00

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....

2008-10-08T15:09:00.000+13:00

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

2008-10-07T18:53:00.000+13:00

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

2008-09-30T10:55:00.000+13:00

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

2008-09-29T09:37:00.001+13:00

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?

2008-09-23T19:22:00.000+12:00

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

2008-09-10T21:19:00.000+12:00

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!!!!

2008-09-08T19:09:00.000+12:00

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

2008-09-07T15:33:00.000+12:00

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

2008-08-26T19:19:00.001+12:00

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

2008-08-25T19:08:00.000+12:00

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

2008-08-25T18:51:00.001+12:00

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)