7/3 WILTW: Brain Development, Standardized Patients and Female Condom

Nurses General Nursing

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Specializes in Pediatrics/Developmental Pediatrics/Research/psych.

I am honored to be filling in for our beloved ixchel's WILTW thread once again.

As I continue adjusting to my new job as well as reaching the halfway point in my assessment class for my MS PMHNP progeam, I am glad to have this opportunity to reflect on what I have learned. I also really enjoy seeing what we can learn from each other and how our varying nursing roles result in varying weekly lessons.

Brain Development

I attended the third of my sexual reproductive health trainings this week, and learned a lot of new information about adolescent brain development and the translation of said development in various activities and education needs. I found it really interesting to learn a possible cause for the impulsivity, thrill seeking, and at times promiscuous behavior of many of the teens with whom I have contact.

The brain goes through a period of development during the adolescent period (ages 12-26) after which both the limbic system and prefrontal cortex ate completely developed. However, these two systems do not develop at the same rate. The prefrontal cortex develops more slowly than the limbic system. As the limbic system seeks pleadure, risks and reward and the prefrontal cortex is involved in logic and decision making, it would make sense that during adolescence teens seek thrills and rewards at a rate at which the prefrontal cortex cannot keep up.

Standardized Patients

As a student in a MS PMHNP program, I had a midterm in a OSCE environment and was required to conduct an H&P on a standardized patient. As I had used standardized patients in my RN to BS P

program I thought I knew what to expect. The experience was good overall.

However, I am short, barely over 5 feet. The standardized patient was 6'8". I had difficulty with the HEENT component if the exam because I could not reach the SP's face. This struggle got me thinking about how I would address this in an actual clinic. I had never encountered this issue (possibly because of the do I if setup). Any ideas?

Female Condoms

This week I found out that female condoms are still in use and provided to our clinic. We found this interesting because none of the nurses, PNPs or MDs have been using them in practice. When we got a new drluberyofcondoms from our DOH, there they were. We all has to figure out how to use them because we have not seen them or used them in quite some time.

What did YOU learn this week?

Specializes in Case mgmt., rehab, (CRRN), LTC & psych.

Thanks for starting this week's WILTW thread, A&Ox6.

I am short, barely over 5 feet.
I'm another member of the ranks of the vertically challenged. I stand a whopping 5'1 and a half inches tall. Over the years I've learned that shortness has few advantages.

Taller people are more likely to be hired than us shorties. Short people have less body surface area and slower metabolic rates than tall people. Generally, height is an indicator of a society's health.

...as a population increases in height, it's safe to assume that its people are either eating better, making more money, or both. If a population shows decreasing height (or stagnation, which the US is showing), we surmise that something is amiss.

Nothing found for The Connection Between Height And Health #ixzz4DPVJlDM9

Specializes in Pediatrics/Developmental Pediatrics/Research/psych.
Thanks for starting this week's WILTW thread, A&Ox6.I'm another member of the ranks of the vertically challenged. I stand a whopping 5'1 and a half inches tall. Over the years I've learned that shortness has few advantages.

Taller people are more likely to be hired than us shorties. Short people have less body surface area and slower metabolic rates than tall people. Generally, height is an indicator of a society's health.

That is really interesting. Something to add to WILTW. Now the question is how to face the challenges.

Specializes in Pediatrics, Emergency, Trauma.

This week I learned:

How to (again) use PowerPoint; my project is coming along very well, and even though I'm (slightly) panicking on how I need it become complete, pick out the right sides to make for the education board, and put the final suggestions and edit together, I'm getting a LOT of encouragement.

Honestly, I haven't had this much career encouragement in a workplace in a LONG time.

Between juggling this project, I have to find time to do agency paperwork so I can dip my toe in AdultED...I hope to not be that ditzy agency nurse when I get an assignment. :nailbiting:

I'm learning that I like having periods of time off during the summer, even though due to Brexit, and the declining pound, I MAY be able to squeezing in another London invasion this year...if not, I can at least lock down a price for the spring. :yes:

Specializes in M/S, LTC, Corrections, PDN & drug rehab.

I learned there are freaking crazy people out there! Like, real nut jobs!!!

My son & I were physically threatened by some crazy lunatic lady. I wish I was kidding. Come after me, fine. But a defenseless 2 year old?! What is wrong with you???

People take Facebook a tad too seriously. So my husband & I took a break.

My son is getting tubes put in his ears tomorrow. I'm nervous even though it's an easy procedure. I wish I could explain to him what's going to happen, but he's only 2.

Specializes in PACU, pre/postoperative, ortho.

Pondering choices... ones we freely make & ones we're forced to.

Survived holiday weekend call, whew! No fireworks injuries, but half the cases were injuries related to 4-wheelers/off road vehicles. (Play safely people! And keep your young kids off these things!) Unfortunately, my next weekend call will be Labor Day weekend. 😭

Poor choices often lead to tragic outcomes. Lost a couple young people in the community, one a fellow nurse.

Final case I had early this morning...a couple had to make the unimaginable, heartrending choice to terminate a pregnancy by induction to save mom's life. Still wrapping my head around that one (catholic hospital - don't see that too often). Dad was still holding baby when I returned mom after d&c. 😔

And now... I can start vacation!

This week I learned that I really like working weekends. No managers, calmer nurses, and great team work.

My next class is Lifespan Human Development. Looking forward to it.

I got invited to join Sigma Alpha Pi. Anyone familiar with it?

For the guys, no matter how much alcohol you drink, it is NOT a good idea to stick your member in a camp stove! (Untold Stories of the ER):no:

Specializes in OB.

Your bladder starts urging you to pee at 300 ml but at 500ml, it can become painful.

Hmmm I think my bladder can hold way more than that and is super tolerant with me.

My head is filled with vast amounts of information as I sit for the Nclex in 38 hours.

Your bladder starts urging you to pee at 300 ml but at 500ml, it can become painful.

Hmmm I think my bladder can hold way more than that and is super tolerant with me.

My head is filled with vast amounts of information as I sit for the Nclex in 38 hours.

Good luck! Be sure to sleep early the night before.

I have 4/5 of my references completed for my new position. Even though it was July 4th weekend, many of my references were timely with filling out the questionnaire that the hospital requires, which I'm so grateful for.

I didn't realize how much consideration goes into apartment hunting, as well as how much a 1 BR apartment costs. I'll be making a lot of calls to narrow down my search, and hopefully I can schedule some tours. Thursday will be the only day I can visit the apartments, so I'm going to have to fit them all in somehow.

I've been watching some videos about chemo treatment and such, since I will be working on oncology. I figure that I'll be an expert at PPE after working on the unit for a while.

Specializes in Cardiology, Cardiothoracic Surgical.

Re: female condom, I worked women's/ community health clinic for a year and still can't recall a time that we ever gave any of those away. I honestly would have no idea how to use one myself if needed. Many of our clients find the cost prohibitive compared to a male condom.

According to my friend who does NGO work in Africa around sexual health, female condoms are more popular there to prevent HIV.

My NCLEX date is fast approaching, 8 days away. And I am starting to get nervous!

I've put in a few job apps but as of yet haven't heard back on them.

I've learned that people have some really screwy beliefs on human anatomy. An adult women told me at a BBQ that women who have mixed race twins with different skin tones, do so because they "store sperm inside them from different fathers". I really wish I was kidding! My "genetics for dummies" lesson went right over her head despite the lovely diagrams I drew.

My extreme dislike of making phone calls has gotten tougher to overcome. I need to call a hospital regarding their new grad program but it's giving me anxiety.

Ugh! This didn't happen when I was on the floor making phone calls. Just at home.

Anyway I'm headed back to my office for another rousing round of Kaplan Q-trainer tests. And then into my pharm books to look up meds that Kaplan uses which I've never heard of.

Just received an email letting me know I've not been selected for an interview at one of the two facilities I applied at.

Why do the online applications make it show hard to indicate you've not taken the NCLEX yet? Ugh

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