Lives Taken Too Soon

Today I write with a heavy heart.

I originally had planned to blog about how awesome it felt to be officially done with the BSN portion of the Accelerated Program, until I flipped on my television yesterday morning...

Scrolling across the bottom of the screen "Newtown Connecticut, Sandy Hook Elementary School shooting 28 people shot and killed; 20 of those being children.

Tears swell up in my eyes... NOT another shooting in less than two weeks... NOT another tragedy to take the lives of innocent people... and during the holiday season ....

Today, I write about the children who will never get a chance to grow up, make memories, and know success or defeat. The parents who will never see their children get off the bus and squeal about how excited they are that Christmas vacation is coming up soon. The students, faculty and neighbors who will have this horrific incident ingrained in their being all because a complete stranger ripped them of innocence in a matter of seconds.

Before I move on, I just want to say to all:: please keep the students, faculty, family and friends of the Sandy Hook Elementary School shooting victims in your prayers during this difficult time.

Growing up in a small town similar to Newtown Connecticut, it never even crossed my mind as a child that school was not a safe place to be. It is disheartening that our country has become a place where being in a mall, movie theater, street corner, and even school does not mean you are safe from harm. I am so thankful that I had the opportunity to grow up, learn lessons, make mistakes, go to prom, graduate from college, and now tackle nursing school. Oftentimes, I rant or whine about how tired or stressed out I am that my whole life is consumed by school work, studying, and no "me time". When I take a step back I need to remind myself that I am so lucky to even have this opportunity. Many applications roll through the graduate admissions offices of nursing programs, and God has given me the chance to show that I can make a difference.

I think about the officers, nurses and health professionals who had to notify the parents and school officials of lives that were taken too soon. Being in these professions is difficult, but at the same time rewarding that you can make the difference with a simple touch, hug, smile, or listening ear.

It breaks my heart to have to write about such horrific news in my blog, but I think it is far more important to keep others in mind during this time rather than shout about my excitement of being done for the semester. Tonight, parents hug your children a little tighter or non-parents tell someone you love them.. just because...


~ Katie

Updates!

                                   

Hello followers! 
Apologies for my delay in posting, but I've finally joined planet Earth again(haha)! We've made it past midterms,  and the main focus of this semester has been time management. During this semester, I have had to complete 150 hours of a preceptorship at Lahey Clinic, a two week rotation at Rosie's Place in Boston, and a six week rotation at Partners Healthcare at Home for community clinical. It has been a blast, but a ton of work! I do not know whether I am coming or going these days, but I know it will all be worth it. In less than two months I will be sitting for the NCLEX!!! ::AHHH:: As I look back at my first post on here I cannot believe how far I have come -- I truly feel ready to be a registered nurse in a few short months. Now, since I have totally slacked on keeping up this blog (please forgive me!) I have several updates about this semester I'd love to share with you...

1. Rosie's Place: This honestly has to be one of the best rotations I have had at Regis, and it was an experience that will stick with me throughout my nursing career. For those of you are unfamiliar with Rosie's Place, it is a sanctuary for poor and homeless women that offers emergency and long-term assistance to women who have nowhere else to turn. The stories these women had to offer were remarkable and humbling. Many of the women at Rosie's Place are homeless, afflicted by neglect/abuse, or have had unfortunate pasts that haunt them till this day. For most of these women and their children, Rosie's Place would offer their only meal for the day. I was ultimately impressed by how welcoming Rosie's Place was towards their guests, and it served to remind me how each patient (no matter their background) deserves respect and unconditional love.

2. Partners Healthcare at Home: What a great surprise this rotation has been for me! I felt uneasy about entering patient homes to provide care, and the position of the traveling nurse has been much different then I thought. There is a greater sense of autonomy when you are out on the road compared to say a hospital or clinic setting. The traveling nurse has the opportunity to have flexible hours, but yet, still needs to maintain organization and open communication with the healthcare team. There is a more personal aspect of care when you enter a patient's home, and it truly appealed to me. I found it was semi-easier to provide care in the home setting, as patients tend to communicate better in the comfort of their own home.  Therefore, as a traveling nurse building nurse/patient trust is slightly more relaxed especially when the patient has the option of offering you some tea before you start your assessment... hehehe

3. Lahey Clinic Cardio/Thoracic Preceptorship - WHERE DO I BEGIN?! This rotation has been filled with every emotion under the sun -- excitement, panic, tears, laughter, nervousness, frustration -- you name it, I probably have felt it after completing 150 hours at Lahey in the cardio/thoracic unit. This WAS my favorite rotation, because I was able to work one-on-one with a registered nurse who had been practicing for years. Everything was very much hands-on, and I began to feel like a true registered nurse after completion of this preceptorship. I was also able to brush up on the cardiac system while working on this floor, which will come in handy for the upcoming NCLEX. Each shift was a different experience, and working on a cardio/thoracic unit was never a boring moment. I was able to assess patients, put in NG tubes, administer meds, help with ambulation, clean wounds, draw blood samples etc. etc. all with the guidance of my preceptor. By the last few shifts I was taking care of 4-5 patients on my own, and if you ask me how that happened my answers is I couldn't tell ya! One day I was struggling to give an injection, and the next I administered flu vaccinations all day long like it was nothing. I guess nursing is similar to other things in life -- you listen, practice, and keep learning even when you feel like there isn't another morsel left in you that can learn anymore! Then one day you step out on a cardio/thoracic unit making sure your patients are alive and not coding ... hooray! Having the opportunity to precept one-one-one during this final semester has been amazing, and I am so glad I chose the path to helping others :)

Well I guess this is all I will write for now, as your eyes are probably exhausted! BUT I will try my best to update more often (c'monnnn Katie!) even if it means attaching myself to an IV of caffeine!

And as always... please feel free to contact me with any questions/concerns/ or money gifts (jokes) at ktava775@regiscollege.edu 


AND FOR SOME LAUGHS...

When there is food at the nurses station

I’m like
                               

the look your patients give you when you tell them they are getting a suppository

                                                        

When my non nursing friends hear what I do

                                   

Frequently Asked Questions

Hello Followers!
What a GREAT success last night was during our information session for perspective students. From the discussion last night, I decided to create a post answering frequently asked questions about the accelerated program. Hope this is helpful :)

And as always, please feel free to contact me at ktava775@regiscollege.edu for further questions/comments!

1. Can you please speak about the time commitment, difficulty, etc?

The program is quite time demanding, and I do not recommend working during the first two or three semesters! However, for those individuals who do need to work it is recommended no more than 15hrs a week. Usually my weekends completely revolve around studying, catching up with readings that cannot be done during the week etc. As far as the difficulty goes, I would say some material is harder than others but you gradually learn how to time manage!

2. Typical class/clinical schedule each week?
In your first semester (for DAY students) your schedule might look something like: Mondays from 8am-6pm, Tuesdays 7-10am, Wednesdays 8-2pm, and Thursday or Friday clinicals (depending on your placed day) 7-3pm.

3. Clinical placement type- are you set up by the school or responsible for finding sites yourself?
Regis will find the clinicals for you during your first two years!  It is during your third year when you are completing the master's portion of the program that you have the opportunity to find your own preceptors. This is advantageous, because you can choose where and what type of specialty you want to focus on.

4. How many clinical sites do you work in throughout the entire program?
It changes from semester to semester -- I would say during the RN portion of the program about ~10 sites. During the NP portion of the program you have to locate your own preceptorship sites and complete over 100 hours worth of training. The sites vary depending on which specialty you are interested in.

5. Any tips about taking out student loans?
I filed my FAFSA online at fafsa.gov, and through the government I received some subsidized and unsubsidized amounts. I also took out a grad plus loan through Regis College to help cover the rest (for my rent, food, gas, books, other necessities) so that I would not have to work during the program. Also, Regis offers graduate assistantships to help out :)

6. Is there a thesis or research requirement?
There are several lengthy papers that you have to write throughout the program.

7. What sort of clinical placements have you had?
I have been placed at the Brigham and Women's Hospital, the VA in West Roxbury, Norwood Hospital, Newton Wellesley Hospital, Children's Hospital Boston, Lahey Clinic, Wayland Elementary School, Rosie's Place and Partners in Waltham.

8. Do you feel prepared as a nurse?
I do feel confident enough to care for patients on the hospital units with the guidance of my instructor! Time in the Sim labs at school help you prepare for what nursing will be like on the actual floors. It takes practice, practice, practice...

9. Any idea what job you hope to secure after graduating?
I am totally open to any job at this moment. I believe I will have a better idea once I finish the RN portion of the program, and have had the opportunity to experience all the different clinical placements. Another great part about Regis is that you do NOT have to declare your specialty until you enter the NP portion.

10. From your perspective and experience, is there a demand for NPs in the field right now and does it seem possible to get a job right after graduation?
YES! The percentage of students who find jobs after graduating as an NP from Regis is 100% three months out of school. (WOO!) If you form a good relationship with your preceptorship site they may even want to hire you. If not, no worries there are plenty of job opportunities available for nurses and NPs at this time.

ALMOST THERE

I don't know about you followers, but I feel the need to clean everything in my apartment prior to final exams... must be my way of relieving stress! HAHA

ALMOST THERE, ALMOST THERE! One final left until summer break (LESS THAN 2 DAYS! ) :-)

And of course, if you have any questions/concerns about the GM program please feel free to contact me at ktava775@regiscollege.edu

SUMMER SESSION PART 2

Hello Followers!

Sorry it has been a little while; this summer session has been a whirlwind of information and has flown by super fast! I have finished my rotation at Newton Wellesley Hospital on a maternity unit, and now I am currently working at Children’s Hospital Boston on a unit that has a variety of different diagnoses and children of all ages. I feel truly fortunate to have the opportunity to be learning at one of the best children’s hospitals in our nation. So after two weeks at Children’s I have to say that I am shocked at how much I actually enjoy caring for the child population. I was nervous coming into this rotation, because this is the first time I would not only be working closely with the patient, but also the patient’s family. One of the adjustments when working with younger patients is ensuring that you communicate with parents and involving them in their child’s care. Therefore, it can be nerve wracking having to perform vitals, assessments and other nursing tasks while having the eyes of concerned parents watching over you. Fortunately, I have had such positive experiences during these past  three weeks and the parents of the children I care for have been very supportive of student nurses. 


Having school in the summer makes it definitely harder to focus on studying, but these courses have been interesting and fun! I have to say it has been my favorite semester yet, and it boggles my mind to think I have only one semester left until I sit for the NCLEX! I am really starting to feel ready to tackle that exam next winter, and look forward to posting more once my fall classes start! 


As a reminder, please feel free to contact me at ktava775@regiscollege.edu 
I'm more than happy to talk with you personally about my experiences at Regis, or answer questions/concerns!


Until next time,
Katie 

 

Maternity Experience

Hi followers!

This week I had the opportunity to shadow the position of a labor and delivery nurse in the operating room. In the morning, I was introduced to a 38 year-old patient awaiting a cesarean section for her third child. I was initially nervous, because thus far in my clinical experience I have had minimal exposure to the female population. My first semester, I cared for two females and last semester I worked solely with men at the VA in West Roxbury. Fortunately, I worked closely with a labor and delivery nurse who has been at Newton Wellesley for over 26 years. She showed me how to properly document all vital signs, medications, and other patient information prior to entering the operating room. While in the operating room I watched this nurse not only set up for the procedure, but also, calm the nerves of her patient while she was undergoing an epidural. The staff were personable and enthusiastically explained everything going on during the operation. (They also checked on me several times to make sure I wasn't going to pass out!) 


I had a million feelings running through me, and before I knew it a beautiful baby was born into the world. Under my mask, my jaw fell straight to the ground when I heard the baby's first cry. The best part about viewing the c-section was the look on both parents' faces when they saw their child for the first time. The labor and delivery nurse then showed me how to quickly wipe down the baby to reduce heat loss, check vital signs, and obtain an APGAR score at 1 and 5 minutes after birth. I also took a peek at the umbilical cord to assess if two healthy arteries and one vein were there. After completion of the c-section, the mother was moved to the recovery room and the same nurse provided care for her. I enjoyed this aspect of the labor and delivery nurse, as she was able to follow her patient antepartum and post partum. Today was an incredible experience, and I have a strong feeling maternity is an area of nursing I would like to pursue one day.  I'll keep you posted on future clinical days :)


Until next time,


Katie

BABIES EVERYWHERE!!! Amelia & I after I swaddled her like a burrito!  Practicing my skills back home...

FIRST YEAR DONE!

                             Hi All,

I have made it through my first year of the GM program and passed all my classes! This semester was definitely a ton of work, but it feels amazing when you receive your final grades and can breathe a sigh of relief! Seeing a grade of 80 or above makes you feel on top of the world. Now I have one week of vacation until Summer Session I starts up... :-)

Summer Session I, I will be taking two courses -- "Illness and Aging" and "Family and Maternity Nursing". I'm very excited as I will be spending Thursdays 7am-7pm on a maternity unit at Newton Wellesley Hospital for the first half of the summer. I've heard that this rotation is fun and will keep you posted on my experiences there. I will also be working as a school nurse on Fridays 8am-2pm for three weeks at Wayland Public Schools. Definitely cannot wait to relive my elementary school days, and see what life as a school nurse is like! Until the summer semester starts up, I will be relaxing on my couch at home catching up on all my DVR'd reality shows (haha) and enjoying some rest and relaxation! I can't believe how fast spring semester flew by, and in less then a year I will be sitting for the NCLEX.  CAN'T BELIEVE IT! 

Also, as a side note I have been receiving many emails regarding the GM program and would be more than happy to answer any specific questions you may have... You can reach me at ktava775@regiscollege.edu

Best,

Katie T. 

Spring Break - 2nd Semester!

WOOHOO! - I have made it to spring break, and man does it feel amazing! One of the main signs as a nursing student that makes you notice you need a break is when the extent of your conversations involve something nursing related! (haha) Trust me, your friends do not always appreciate all the details...

So here's a quick summary of what has occurred during the mid semester. First, operation acute care nursing has quickly taken over my life and I want it to terminate soon! The amount of knowledge I have learned about cancers, the respiratory system, the cardiac system, and now the digestive system makes me feel prepared for what the next semesters will bring, but also extremely drained! Just when you think your brain can only retain so much, you just have to smoosh a little more in there (and somehow you actually do). My clinical rotation at the VA in West Roxbury has been another really great experience. I am taking care of multiple patients with help from my peers, which makes me feel like all this hard work is finally paying off! Oh, and giving an injection now has become like second-nature -- piece of cake! It's funny because the nursing tasks that once felt difficult to complete are now finally coming together... please feel free to let me know if you would like to be catheterized! (I have officially fallen off my rocker)

In mental health nursing we have focused a great deal of our time on the diagnostic mental illness axises. Although psych nursing has been a positive experience, I have a strong feeling it will not be the career path I choose one day. You have to be an emotionally strong & special individual to actively listen to the experiences your patients are feeling on a daily basis. It is a rewarding feeling when your patient shares that speaking with you has especially helped them, but othertimes you can leave psych clinical with a heavy heart. Either way, psych clinical is truly going to help you know how to therapeutically communicate with patients throughout your nursing career.

That's about it for now! Check out this super mutant strawberry I found while making a fruit tart for my family. Yes, this is as exciting as my spring break is going to get & I am COMPLETELY content with that =)



adiós AMIGOS -- Katie

Onto the next one!

Hello followers!

I am writing to you after two weeks into my second semester of the GM program! Winter vacation was much needed, and now I am refreshed and ready to tackle the next semester. Oh yeah, and I finally figured out why my hand/eye coordination was so terrible.. I NEEDED GLASSES... HA. It's amazing how much clearer the world looks now (lol)... Anywayssss,

This semester I am going to clinical three days a week; one night at Norwood Hospital for my mental health rotation and two nights at the VA in West Roxbury for acute care. Along with 20hrs of clinical time, I am going to school two days a week and also every other weekend for a Saturday class! Therefore, it has already been a pretty hectic semester, but definitely a lot of fun. We have also already spent some hours in the Sim lab working on hanging IVs, catheterizing patients, suctioning tracheostomies, and providing care to patients with chest tubes. I definitely feel as though the academic load has become much more demanding, especially medical surgical nursing which requires many hours of studying. However, whenever the work load seems like it is becoming too much I try to remind myself that working on the floor at the hospitals make it so worth it!

At the VA, I am working on two different units. On Wednesday nights, I am on a spinal cord injury unit and on Thursdays I work on a cardiac unit. Both units enable my crew to delve into really challenging aspects of nursing care, and take full advantage of learning opportunities. (We are all sooo ready for bed at the end of the night! zzzzz ) Monday nights have also been a great learning experience where I work on an acute psychiatric inpatient unit. Right now, we are concentrating our efforts on therapeutic communication skills with mentally ill patients. Along with this, we have been learning about the numerous types of mental illness, how to maintain milieu (psych environment) safety, and the different mechanisms of psych medications. 

I find the most challenging part about this semester has been figuring out how to juggle schoolwork, clinical hours and making time for my friends and family. It is tricky having to put others aside during a time when you know that studying has to be a priority. Luckily, my friends and family have been nothing short of supportive during this time which makes concentrating on school much easier – AND when times seem really stressful my two dogs can squeeze a smile out of me... J



Until next time,
Katie