9/5 What I learned this week.....

[ixchel]

Ahhhhh this week. Kids in school, a nice run of chill nights, and here I am, wiiiiiiide awake knowing my body needs to flip back to awake in the day (for only two flippin' days) this weekend until I have two more nights this coming week. *sigh* I need more summer. Fall means back to mom taxi and learning 3rd grade math. Ugh! No thank you!

Alas, this week I have learned.....

There is a man with a 19 inch member. The head of it is 10 inches in diameter.

Xarelto is a hell of a drug.

Being an assertive person by nature, and after receiving guidance through nursing school and as I've been a nurse on concise and direct communication (how to deliver and receive it), I was reminded this week that not everyone effectively communicates, and it can be upsetting to them to be asked to.

In addition, the very nature of nursing education through school and orientation teaches us how to be able to initially be subordinate, in a way, to those who mentor us, but seamlessly transition to being peers after. This feels like an endemic part of nursing because we all do it, and a good preceptor takes his/her role seriously to ensure safety and adequate care is delivered. That ease of transition doesn't apparently exist in all levels of patient care, though. I'm not sure why it didn't occur to me, but it was placed directly in my face when I was informed that a preceptor tech should not be responsible for correction of an orienting tech, because the orienting tech is a peer to the preceptor. (Huge needs for education, there - I am not the (disciplinary) supervisor of the aids, even as the nurse, and a preceptor is responsible for the learning process of the one orienting - they need to learn how to communicate errors in practice without worrying about the consequence to the peer relationship later.)

I've decided my melanin is useless.

On a related note, I would rather go without a shower than shower with sunburn.

#JunkOff is trending right now. And in the name of science, there is this - The Icelandic Phallological Museum

I want a high and mighty horse to ride in on.

And speaking of horses, never look a gift horse in the mouth. If the whole floor has wild and crashing patient assignments, check in and offer help often, but keep it to yourself that your group was/is easy.

When you read a patient's chart notes and see they couldn't be stopped from punching and spitting on staff with 25 mg haldol and 10 mg Ativan, you might actually think to yourself, "thank god he's only felt me up this shift".

I've decided I'm going to write a book called "You Can't Make This **** Up".

Agony, sweet, sweet little old man reaffirmed for me that we have a desperate need in this country for social services. A person shouldn't decide to attempt suicide because lack of access to adequate care has ultimately (decades later) led to homelessness.

I very much love and miss NOC. It felt so good to do a week of nights!

I've learned how very close to death a person can get during ETOH detox. It doesn't help that the person is 4 months older than my mom, who is 15 years sober right now. Counter transference is a hell of a drug.

Lots of psychosocial stuff this week. Very heartbreaking.

I've learned that simply being in a sinus arrest rhythm while already having a HR in the 30s is not a qualifyer for a pacemaker. (Apparently?)

I've learned that the cutoff for a pause to ring asystole on our tele monitors is somewhere between 4.8 and 5.6 seconds.

I've learned our hospitalists have this magical locked room filled with iced cream. And if you're really nice (and they're tired-giddy at the end of their 7-day NOC stretch), they'll tube some up to you.

Adding with compatible numbers makes no freaking sense to me whatsoever. I am a math smart person with a rather high IQ (logic and I are BFFs) and yet, compatible numbers? Seriously, why?! I should be able to tutor my 8-year old in math without having to learn what it is first, right???

Have you learned anything worth sharing this week?

[WellThatsOod]

I know. I have been studying way more than I thought I would be. What did I miss?

There's a thread called "why does..." that you need to check out. It may hurt your brain, but it's fun.

There were some killer deers, umm...

I'm still sick and my brain is lacking oxygen. Someone finish. I can't.

[cracklingkraken, ASN, RN]

I know. I have been studying way more than I thought I would be. What did I miss?

How is nursing school?

Well, there's a thread about mandatory flu vaccines. Apparently, herbs can prevents all illnesses (who knew?). You missed a girl who posted that All Nurses were bullies (I think she was referring to the site) and insisted that she never experienced it herself on this site, but was shaming those bullies on the behalf of others. I know, "What?" is probably what you're thinking. You are not alone.

There are apparently service dogs for diabetics. Floor nurses are mean spirited if they aren't grateful for the opportunity to teach students who were dumped on them at a last minutes notice. They are heartless money-grubbers if they expect any compensation for this extra task.

And there was a creepy male/female (there's still some debate over the individual) who said that males shouldn't be nurses because they are rapists and sexually assault their patients.

Anyone want to add?

[Purple_roses]

How is nursing school?

Well, there's a thread about mandatory flu vaccines. Apparently, herbs can prevents all illnesses (who knew?). You missed a girl who posted that All Nurses were bullies (I think she was referring to the site) and insisted that she never experienced it herself on this site, but was shaming those bullies on the behalf of others. I know, "What?" is probably what you're thinking. You are not alone.

There are apparently service dogs for diabetics. Floor nurses are mean spirited if they aren't grateful for the opportunity to teach students who were dumped on them at a last minutes notice. They are heartless money-grubbers if they expect any compensation for this extra task.

And there was a creepy male/female (there's still some debate over the individual) who said that males shouldn't be nurses because they are rapists and sexually assault their patients.

Anyone want to add?

So basically, everything is as it always has been on AN--the crazies, the entitled students, the *** moments, and the cool stuff.

Most of my dad's side of the family are anti-vaxxers who would probably pray to a eucalyptus plant if a self-proclaimed doctor of zen godliness told them to. I have not found a way to penetrate that logic barrier yet.

As for the creep "it"...let's just hope that person was bored and was just trying to get some feathers ruffled. Because if he/she/it truly believes that...wow.

I'm loving school so far! I'm super busy, but I don't mind it. I found my study buddies who I can also carpool with, which has been wonderful. I also finished all the research for my group project! You know, just in case my group did not adequately research everything.

[cracklingkraken, ASN, RN]

So basically, everything is as it always has been on AN--the crazies, the entitled students, the *** moments, and the cool stuff.

Most of my dad's side of the family are anti-vaxxers who would probably pray to a eucalyptus plant if a self-proclaimed doctor of zen godliness told them to. I have not found a way to penetrate that logic barrier yet.

As for the creep "it"...let's just hope that person was bored and was just trying to get some feathers ruffled. Because if he/she/it truly believes that...wow.

I'm loving school so far! I'm super busy, but I don't mind it. I found my study buddies who I can also carpool with, which has been wonderful. I also finished all the research for my group project! You know, just in case my group did not adequately research everything.

Pretty much. Although, I feel as though the influx of crazies was greatly increased this week.

You already have a group project? Dear goodness, talk about grabbing the bull by the horns. What classes are you taking, aside from Fundamentals?

[Jensmom7, BSN, RN]

I'm loving school so far! I'm super busy, but I don't mind it. I found my study buddies who I can also carpool with, which has been wonderful. I also finished all the research for my group project! You know, just in case my group did not adequately research everything.

Well, you may have gotten some research done, but another student was having a serious case of the jim-jams because she couldn't find matching scrubs and had to wear blue pants and a pink top.

[Purple_roses]

Pretty much. Although, I feel as though the influx of crazies was greatly increased this week.

You already have a group project? Dear goodness, talk about grabbing the bull by the horns. What classes are you taking, aside from Fundamentals?

I know it. I've been trying to get it over with ASAP.

I'm taking Math for Meds, Physiology, and in one month Geriatrics. I think it's weird that I didn't have to take Phys before entry into the program, and I really wish I would have gotten it out of the way. Anatomy was required, and it did go into Physiology, but not as in depth as needed. I added Phys to my course list during the last semester of my pre reqs, but an advisor strongly suggested I drop it due to my course load. In hind site, it would have been far easier to take it with pre reqs than with nursing courses. Oh well. You live and learn. Which classes are you taking this semester?

[Purple_roses]

Well, you may have gotten some research done, but another student was having a serious case of the jim-jams because she couldn't find matching scrubs and had to wear blue pants and a pink top.

Is this a thread??

[cracklingkraken, ASN, RN]

I know it. I've been trying to get it over with ASAP.

I'm taking Math for Meds, Physiology, and in one month Geriatrics. I think it's weird that I didn't have to take Phys before entry into the program, and I really wish I would have gotten it out of the way. Anatomy was required, and it did go into Physiology, but not as in depth as needed. I added Phys to my course list during the last semester of my pre reqs, but an advisor strongly suggested I drop it due to my course load. In hind site, it would have been far easier to take it with pre reqs than with nursing courses. Oh well. You live and learn. Which classes are you taking this semester?

Math for Meds is a course? How is it? Are you in a BSN program? Our program just changed the pre-reqs, so that incoming students only have to have 1 semester of A&P for admission. But that means you'll have to take A&P 2 sometime before you finish (who would want to do that?).

This is my semester with the little people aka OB/Peds. My classes are a little too slow-paced for my taste, so I'm starting a side projecton pharmacogenomics and writing a research paper on it.

I was actually studying OB/Peds at Starbucks this morning and should have checked my reading before opening the book. There were pictures of lady parts, hemorrhoids, and sex positions. Luckily, I don't think anyone saw. I flipped the page and decided to save the reading for when I was in a more discrete location.

[cracklingkraken, ASN, RN]

Is this a thread??

You should know that, by now, threads are created for the most trivial things. But fashion is very important, dontcha know?

[OrganizedChaos, LVN]

Grr that scrubs thread closed before I got to reply. That's what I get for misplacing my phone. Boo! So much fury to unleash, now it all is pent up. No good.

[Purple_roses]

Math for Meds is a course? How is it? Are you in a BSN program? Our program just changed the pre-reqs, so that incoming students only have to have 1 semester of A&P for admission. But that means you'll have to take A&P 2 sometime before you finish (who would want to do that?).

This is my semester with the little people aka OB/Peds. My classes are a little too slow-paced for my taste, so I'm starting a side projecton pharmacogenomics and writing a research paper on it.

I was actually studying OB/Peds at Starbucks this morning and should have checked my reading before opening the book. There were pictures of lady parts, hemorrhoids, and sex positions. Luckily, I don't think anyone saw. I flipped the page and decided to save the reading for when I was in a more discrete location.

I'm predicting that you're destined for greatness if you're choosing to have side projects while taking courses than many nursing students have said were the hardest. Good for you!

I'm in an ADN program right now. Math for Meds is a class that teaches all the basics of med administration. It seems like it will just be a lot of dosage calculations. There will also be lab days where we physically work work with IV med administration.

[OrganizedChaos, LVN]

I come back to AN after having my ass kicked by the first week of nursing school, only to find this?!?! You changed your avatar???

Everything is chaos. Everything.

This avatar suits me better. Fuzzy & crazy! Best of both worlds!