Who made it through their first week alive??!!

Becca608 · Aug 23, 2007

Made it through 3 days and am sleepless over the 4th. Classes start in 7 hours and I'm sleepless here instead of in my bed.

I know how crappy smoking is and I've been trying to quit. I spent the summer working on it and discovered other issues that had a higher priority of resolution. I have not abandoned my goal of quitting smoking. It is terrible and I have tried all...gums, patches, filters, medication, cold turkey. Cold turkey is probably the best I am getting to where I need to be to kick this habit successfully for good!!

However, I believe that one or several of my 'helpful' classmates made a point of pointing out the 3 'obvious smokers' in the class after our lunch break on Day 1 to our instructor.

I'm not trying to excuse MY BAD BEHAVIOR, but our instructor who was pleasant on the first day now curls her lip in disgust if she has to respond to the 3 of us in class. I asked a question today and was grateful that looks can't kill. I am trying to kick my bad habits, but change is a process and doesn't take place overnight.

Advice ... Thanks Fellow Nurses!!!!

justme1972 · Aug 23, 2007

Oh yeah, that "little" 52-page syllabus that is going to give me nightmares for the next few months?

I'm suprised I didn't dream of paper monsters crowding my bed last night.

Daytonite, BSN, RN · Aug 23, 2007

What are the subjects of this 12 chapters you had to read? Maybe some of us can give you some insight as to what is the most important information you need to know from them.

allthingsbright · Aug 23, 2007

I just finished my first week of classes and I am freaking out alittle bit... we were assigned to read 12 chapters during the first 3 days of class! I have had no sleep all week long and am looking forward to going to bed and just getting up to go to work all day instead of back to get more assignments. It has been an awesome week though. I love it!!

Omg. I am in shock right now. I dont know how I am going to make it through the semester, just that I will.

Good luck all! :uhoh3:

2bRnKim · Aug 23, 2007

Still alive but tired and over whelmed. I thought that I had everything organized enough until those handouts , etc. kept coming and now I feel like I'm all over the place. I bought a day planner today and I will get it together with all of these reading assignments, computer assessments, and class projects that will be due soon. Other tham that, I had a really exciting week. :uhoh3:

Kim

allthingsbright · Aug 23, 2007

I just finished my first week of classes and I am freaking out alittle bit... we were assigned to read 12 chapters during the first 3 days of class! I have had no sleep all week long and am looking forward to going to bed and just getting up to go to work all day instead of back to get more assignments. It has been an awesome week though. I love it!!

Omg. I am in shock right now. I dont know how I am going to make it through the semester, just that I will.

Good luck all! :uhoh3:

reidesert · Aug 23, 2007

Well I made it through orientation. Needless to say that I am tired of standing in lines. I gave my breastpump a trial run at orientation. If I have a ten minute break, I can pump 4 oz in 5-7 minutes. Its gross having to do it in the bathroom stall but I am committed to providing my son with breastmilk and keeping my supply up. Like so many others I have a ton of reading and work to do. I am about half way through. I haven't really had more than four hours of sleep but I have a very active 3 year old and a 3 month old baby that require my undivided attention so I don't study when they are awake. I am on call 24-7, its tough being a mom but I enjoy every second of it. I am enjoying the reading (is that weird?). It feels good to do something for "me". I am have also committed to working out for 30 min 3 days/week and increasing my water intake. Good luck to you who is trying to quit smoking. I am not a smoker but I have heard it is tough to kick. I think it is despicable that you are judged for it -especially by the instructor. It scares me how she would treat a patient with any type of addiction. I thought that one of the roles of a nurse was to educate and empower, not to put down and degrade. Shame on her for making you feel shame. You should feel proud of yourself that you 1. acknowledge the problem and 2. are taking steps to correct it. Well sorry if I am rambling. I am somewhat of a motormouth-I am sure that that will get me in trouble at some point in the program. Take it easy to everyone out there and lots of luck to you!

SA2BDOCTOR · Aug 23, 2007

I made it thru the first week. Thank god. I was able to make it to bed by 11:30p.m. With pre-class quizzes, reading assignments. Health Hx write ups and Assessment of Body system etc etc. I am about to prepare for my first assessment exam on Thursday. Opps did I forget to mention the medical terminology exams TWO of them and 2 Drug Calc exams and a critical thinking test OMG.. and foundations and assessment labs. I cannot imagine what will happen when they add PHAR in a couple weeks and adult health :)

mike1973 · Aug 23, 2007

Yes I made it through! I am trying to keep my eyes open at the moment but the first week of baptism by fire is over. Just like everyone else here we have a ton of reading, med. terms quiz on Tuesday (about 240 terms, and 110 abbreviations need to learn), Vital signs are next week so I am off to see if I can properly do a BP. Having trouble with palpating the brachial artery. I have found mine but it is hard to find in other people. I guess that's why I'm in school!

SA2BDOCTOR · Aug 23, 2007

You are very right mike1973

Daytonite, BSN, RN · Aug 23, 2007

vital signs are next week so i am off to see if i can properly do a bp. having trouble with palpating the brachial artery. i have found mine but it is hard to find in other people.

mike. . .to make the brachial artery easier to palpate have the person hyperextend their elbow joint or place a rolled up towel directly under the elbow which will cause the arm to fall into a hyperextended position. this will allow the brachial artery to assume a position close to the bony structures. you will only feel the pulse when you "trap" it between your fingers and the patient's bone. keep in mind that it is sometimes more toward the medial side of the person's arm.

there is a virtual blood pressure cuff you can practice listening to the bp sounds on and how they change. it is at http://medicine.osu.edu/exam/ - scroll down the web page and click on the link for taking a blood pressure to bring up the virtual blood pressure cuff. you can recycle the cuff to retake bp after bp.