Nursing Student Chronicles

Change of Shift

Laney — Wed, 10 Mar 2010 05:01:39 +0000

Y’all- it’s change of shift time.

And guess what? I’m hosting for the first time! It’s coming live on March 18th.

Never heard of CoS? Read all about it.

Mamatrauma is our current host and did an awesome job!

So, send me your submissions. I promise it’ll be a party and a half.

Love,

Laney

Spring Break

Laney — Tue, 09 Mar 2010 15:21:28 +0000

I’m on spring break and it feels so good!!

Well, I’m at work. And I’ll be here tomorrow too.

BUT the husband and I are going away this weekend for his birthday…and I am super excited. Headed to the beach with an oceanfront room. The beach is his favorite place, so although its too cold to get in the water, we’ll be able to sit back and here the waves from our OCEANFRONT room. Got a little excited there, sorry. This has been in the making since late last year because there is no time for vacation [or sleep for that matter] when you’re in nursing school.

SO! When is your guys’ spring break and what plans do you have?

Love,

Laney

And the Winner Is…

Laney — Sun, 07 Mar 2010 05:31:48 +0000

Jenny!

Woo-hoo!

Congrats on the win and hopefully there will be another giveaway coming soon.

Stay tuned…

Love,

Laney

Home At Last

Laney — Fri, 05 Mar 2010 01:58:08 +0000

I had an amazing clinical today. I got to be in the PICU [at a different hospital than the one where I work] and I absolutely loved it. It reiterated that I could be a PICU nurse quite happily.

There are a few things about where I work that I definitely don’t like and that had kind of turned me off the PICU idea for awhile. But here, at this other hospital, it was great! I asked questions about how they ran certain aspects and it fit me perfectly. I clicked well with the staff and the charge nurse liked me so much she introduced me to the nurse manager AND gave me her number and email saying I could use her as a reference anytime.

I’m super stoked.

Hopefully, I’ll get my summer externship there and will have a leg-up on getting one of the new grad positions there.

Overjoyed. Today was an amazing clinical day. I felt the spark reignite. The same one that had been dull and waning for awhile. Woo-hoo!

Love,

Laney

Interview

Laney — Thu, 04 Mar 2010 00:33:38 +0000

Yup, I’ve got an interview tomorrow for a float pool NA II position. The budget is only allowing for FIVE new spots, so I’m hoping to get one so I can ‘get my foot in the door’ as they say. It’s only perdiem meaning I’d only have to work 24 hours a month to maintain my job.

Considering how competitive it is right now to get jobs, especially in this area with not hiring too many new grads…I’m trying to do everything possible so I can get on a good floor when I graduate.

Cross your fingers for me!

Love,

Laney

March Giveaway

Laney — Tue, 02 Mar 2010 17:25:16 +0000

So, I’m working on trying to get a giveaway a month. Luckily, the wonderful people at Dansko decided to help out!

They’re super popular with nursing shoes and have offered to hook someone up with a free pair!

To enter: Leave a comment naming why Dansko is a great option for nurses. Then post your favorite style, include color and size—take your time, should you win you’ll get the shoe you post.

So, take a look at their website [ http://www.dansko.com/?bid=10009 ] to find your favorite shoe and leave a comment to enter. Did I mention they would be free? I love free stuff.

The drawing will run until Friday at midnight and then a winner will be randomly selected. Good luck to everyone!

Love,

Laney

Working in Nursing School

Laney — Tue, 02 Mar 2010 14:26:28 +0000

I got another question via email.

“I’m getting ready to start nursing school and wonder if I should work while I’m there. I don’t have to work technically, but I don’t like relying on my parents to pay for everything even though they said it is fine. What do you think? I know you work on the weekends…”

Well, to be perfectly honest- if I didn’t have to work, I wouldn’t. First semester I worked 36 hours a week plus school and clinicals….and nearly burnt out.

Last semester and this semester, I go to school Monday through Thursday and then work 8am-8pm Fridays and Saturdays. Last semester wasn’t so bad, but I’m already burning out this semester and its only midterms!

They always told us in the first week of school, “Don’t work in nursing school!”, but when you’ve got a mortgage, that really isn’t an option. If you don’t HAVE to work, but maybe want a little extra cash to help out or for spending, I’d suggest getting a perdiem NA position at the hospital you’re interested in working at once you get your RN. Per-diem only requires something like 24 hours a month which is very doable. If you haven’t got your NA yet, there’s always the HUC position.

I’ve come to find that the topic of working while in this level of schooling is a very personal question and sometimes real touchy. I’ve seen divides in first semester from those who had to work and those who didn’t have to work. It was like those who had to work scoffed at those who didn’t have to work complaining about how they didn’t have any time to study. I know I thought that in like the first month, but you know, everyone’s got their own issues- working and otherwise.

Anyhoo, that was kind of rambling at the end. Sorry about that. Best of luck to you!

How about you guys? Any thoughts on this? Do any of you have to work or do you do it because you want to?

Love,

Laney

PS- Keep the questions/emails coming! You can see other questions answered including those about how many hours to study in nursing school and the worst [and best] parts of nursing school.

It’s March Already

Laney — Mon, 01 Mar 2010 15:19:24 +0000

Can you believe it?!?!

I graduate in NINE months.

Woah! I’m ready. And I’m exhausted. Blahhhhh.

Love,

Laney

M-isms #14

Laney — Sun, 28 Feb 2010 16:53:58 +0000

On determining if baby may have birth defects just after the delivery: “Well, if the baby has you know maybe droopiness or a something weird in the face, I may look at the parents. Sometimes the parents will be looking a little chromesome-y themselves!”

PS- You can also read about the origin of these nursing instructor quotes and the rest of the collection of other M-isms

I Shot Her…

Laney — Sat, 27 Feb 2010 13:58:20 +0000

…in the deltoid with a 5/8″ needle.

Thursday was a better clinical day. I got to go to one of the local community centers in the downtown area and practice immunizations on the pediatric patient. I also watched some physicals and helped with the hearing/vision tests. I started talking with this one 12 year old after her tests and instantly connected to her. She reminded me a lot of my sister.

Then I went back to the immunization room. I was nervous about the idea of giving a shot to a squirming baby. My classmate went and gave four shots on a 6 month old. She cried and pushed our hands away when we gave her the bandaids, but after a few minutes she was smiling and playing again.

I waited for my assignment wanting to bite my fingernails (but I restrained!). Lo and behold, my assignment was the 12 year old from earlier. How awesome! She was a trooper and only made a small face. She sat still and all was right with the world. One heart band-aid for you 12 year old!

It was a good day.

Any thoughts? You guys remember your first peds injections?

Love,

Laney

PS- Need other firsts? You can also flashback to struggling nursing students for the first time, first birth, and first client.