Well I failed this weekend. The CE's and CA are wonderful there and I highly recommend this site to anyone. But, my advise to anyone going any where to do this is GO ALONE. My support person was no support! She was sick, nasty and her coughing and snoring kept me awake all weekend. Friday I passed 3 of 4 labs (missed the bubble in my sq syringe)I did not know that the locking device turned, and when the CE turned it there was my bubble hiding! Saturday I sailed through both PCS's and my sq repeat. All I had to do was 1 more on Sunday.
Well by Sunday morning After getting about 3 hrs of sleep since thursday morning I was now sick, tired and downright exhausted. My head was in such a fog I just could not think anymore. My first pcs was way more involved than the 2 on saturday and as I am writing my grid and on O2 management I knew I was forgetting something but I just couldn't think straight and I was running out of time. Well it was Cap refill ! so it was a fail. I was too tired to even be upset. Next one was way easier and yes O2 management again and yes I checked!
I did all my areas of care and 2 sets of vitals checked and rechecked my grid at least 10 times, still had an hour left to do my charting. I declared my vitals and heard those lovely words (Lets step out of the room for a minute) I couldn't believe it what did I miss? I checked and rechecked my grid over and over. APICAL pulse! I never even noticed it! Never wrote it on my grid, took 2 radial pulses,thaught I had it kicked in the butt! So we all know what happened. FAIL
I will reapply asap and take a cancellation, I am still to tired for this to even sink in. I knew my AOC's and should have passed this, It was not as bad as I thaught it would be, The pcs's are very basic care. If I would have went alone I would have passed. I was second guessing taking someone with me for months and I should have went with my gut instinct. For my friend this was a cheap road trip, For me it was a $2000 lesson!
So the moral of this story is, if you take someone with you make sure you know there sleeping habits, if you have trouble sleeping, it will be 10 times worse this weekend and every little sound will sound like a bomb! If you need to have someone with you then spend the extra money for a separate room, it may save you thousands in the end.
I would have done better if I had brought my family with me, at least they are supportive. Not only did my friend keep me awake but she was nasty and not supportive at all. When I called my husband from the hospital lobby Sunday and told him I failed, at first he couldn't believe it since I passed everything on Saturday,then he told me not to worry I could reapply as soon as I got home! He is a real trooper and has never been anything but wonderful through all of this, but I still think I will go alone next time.
Lunah, MSN, RN
14 Articles; 13,773 Posts
Awww, I'm glad your husband was so supportive, ceb -- that makes a lot of difference, I'm sure!! *hugs*