Jessica's Daily Affirmation

Adult Medicine II- 4 weeks

Daily Schedule: Monday and Tuesday--> Lecture 9am-3pm w/ exams every Monday.
                          Wednesday- Friday--> Clinical 6:30am-3:30pm

Actual Schedule:  On the Med/Surg floor whenever the instructor decided that she was bored and that there wasn't anything else to do or to be learned she would let us go early.

What to wear: Scrubs, comfortable shoes and support socks

What's in my pockets:  patient hand-off report, patient med. list, pens, stethoscope ( I think I used my stethoscope a total of three times on this rotation), change

Patient notes you'll be asked to write: VS, I & O's, safety

What to study:  congestive heart failure, pulmonary embolism, ostomies, hematology/oncology. A lot of what you study will have to do with the population of people that come in.  This particular rotation was in the center of farming/agriculture so there were a lot of older patients who worked until their bodies couldn't keep up anymore.

A few unforgettables along the way:  Discount on food/coffee! A patient of mine who saw the Pearly Gates.  Patient with a GI bleed who is a Jehovah's witness.  Some pretty awesome nurses and assistants who goofed off with us in the hallways.  Having the electricity go out in the hospital. Going to the county fair for a "community assessment."  This really was a time for us to get out of the hospital and eat our way through the fair.

This was a fairly laid back rotation without too much work, which was very much welcomed considering this was the summer from hell.  A word of advice:  Do not enroll in an accelerated nursing program unless you are absolutely, positively certain that you want to go into the nursing profession.  Just sayin'.

Pediatrics- 4 weeks

Daily Schedule: Lecture on Mon. and Tues. from 8am - 2pm
                           Wards on Weds., Thurs., and Fri. from 6:30-2:30

Actual Daily Schedule:  No real change from what is posted above.

What to wear: Scrubs.  It's good to have an extra shirt if you happen to be the recipient of any projectiles

What's in my pockets: Brains ( a tool to organize your day- the one in your head is good to have too), Assessment and medication sheet, pens, band-aids, granola bar.

Patient notes you'll be asked to write:  assessments and safety notes.

What to study:  I have been spending most of my time on the pulmonary unit.  I've been reading a lot about pediatric respiratory issues, pediatric interventions in a kid-friendly way.  Of course, all systems.

A few unforgettables along the way:  sitting in on a cranial reconstruction, seeing a patient with right lung agenesis (born with only one lung)

Curious things other students do:  1. text messaging- which I find is unprofessional. 2. talking to patients like they are adults. 3

I am tired exhausted of school.  The amount of information that is thrown at us is ridiculous.  I am so over this.

Row your Boat

After getting moved in to the new house, battling bronchitis, keeping up with patients on the ward and studying I was more than ready to call it quits.  Instead,  this past weekend a I dragged a friend with me and we went to the reservoir for National Learn How To Row Day.  The day was humid, steamy, and rainy.  After being briefed on the parts of a boat and some practice on the ergs we hit the water.   First on the barge and then on an eight-seater.  I was loving the latter until my seat came of the track and I couldn't do anything but just sit there.  Both times I was port side and I'm already comfortable with it. 
I must have done well enough.  I received an e-mail applauding my "Olympic-caliber" rowing.  I'm sure everyone got that e-mail though.  Who knows, I'm still young enough to go for Gold. 
An in effort to preserve what little sanity I have left I joined a running club that meets early in the morning on the weekends.  It is a 16 week program so it will take me into the better part of the fall semester.  I am looking forward to changes and seeing what is in store for me as these days go by.

OB- 4 weeks

I haven't finished this rotation yet but I'd thought I'd share what it's been like so far.


daily schedule:
M,T,F- 0700-1530 on wards
W,R-0900-1430 lecture
Exams weekly covering between 5-10 chapters.

actual daily schedule:
same as the daily schedule.

what to wear:
issued scrubs while on the wards and street clothes on lecture days

what's in my pockets:
small notebook, pens, pocket size OB clinical guide, stethoscope

patient notes you'll be asked to write:
depending on whether you're on L& D or postpartum there will be a lot of newborn and maternal assessments, pain control, and family, educational, and psychosocial assessments

what to study:
newborn assessments, postpartum assessments, comfort measures, pain meds

a few unforgettables along the way:
palpating the fundus.  seeing Goldenhar Syndrome.  examining the placenta. witnessing birth of new life.

curious things other students do:
text messaging.  be professional and turn your phone off.  i'm sure your ex-boyfriend's sister can wait.

little suckers

i need a break. last night i had a dream that leeches were on me.  you know the critters that were used in medieval times. i wasn't grossed out by it, more annoyed that they were on me.  getting them off was a challenge because of their little suckers having such a grip on my skin.  i know its disgusting.  Evidently, seeing leeches in a dream refers to something in your life that is draining the energy and vigor out of you.  The dream may refer to people, habits, or negative emotions that are sucking you out of your vitality.  I'd say school fits in well with this description.  if you have any secrets to replenish vigor and energy feel free to share.

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