This week I am posting to you just a few moments before I am free to head back home for THANKSGIVING BREAK! Therefore, I thought I'd take the time to share with you some of the things that I am thankful for throughout this past semester: Here it goes:
5) I am thankful for No. 2 pencils, because without them I would not have been able to fill out the many Scantron exams that I have completed this semester
4) I am thankful for coffee because it has enabled me to stay up many late nights to complete work
3) I am thankful for petfinder.com, which has given me the chance to procrastinate when I feel work overloaddd
2) I am thankful for those little dove chocolates with the nice sayings on the wrapper -- "Smile at yourself in the mirror" OK I WILL
1) I am thankful for hand sanitizer and the patients that have allowed me to practice on them (yes, I know scary!)
REALLY #1: gloves which have allowed me to handle blood, guts, and yes, occassionally some poo.
Now onto one of my nursing stories...
As of November I have learned a variety of nursing skills including: how to perform an entire health assessment, how to assess a pressure ulcer, how to hang IV fluids, how to provide culturally sensitive care, measuring input and output of fluids, how to check blood glucose levels and much much more! However, the one thing that I had been waiting for as a student nurse was the day that I would be able to practice giving an injection. In lab we have these awesome injection pads that simulate the way it feels to give an actual injection. However, much to my surprise giving an injection isn't just "stick and go" (fun fact: they make it look so much easier on TV!) You first have to learn the different size needle gauges, the different types of medications to administer, the appropriate injection sites on the body and most importantly the fact that you cannot full on attack a patient's gluteus maximus with your syringe.
So I'm sitting in lab eager to pick up a needle and start jabbing my simulation pad, when my professor looks at me like "this girl has got to me kidding me?" In other words, I'm pretty much dangerous with a needle in hand. My professor went on to explain to us how to properly pull the syringe cap off "with authority!", and then how to draw up the right amount of fluid without fumbling the vial in your hand. Apparently, my hand/eye coordination needs some work as do my eyes, because I could not see the numbers on the side of the needle for the life of me! More so, some medications only come in ampules made of glass (this means you have to say a quick prayer that glass shards won't cut your fingers off when snapping the ampule open).
From this story, I am merely trying to explain to you that some nursing skills will come more easily to you than others. At Regis College, the professors are more than happy to assist you with any difficulties you may be experiencing in class or lab. As mentioned in my previous post, the close relationship between students and faculty was a major deciding factor in choosing this nursing graduate school. I never feel awkward or nervous to ask my professors for help with any techniques I may not succeed at right away.
Until next time: If you ever need your foley bag drained I'm your girl, however, I'll be practicing my injection techniques some more over these next few weeks with my professor... In the wise words of my good friend at Regis: "BE KIND TO ME, I MAY SOMEDAY BE YOUR NURSE!" especially if someone is going to trust me with a syringe one day :)
- Katie Tavares
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