I survived the first week of school.
For those of you who don't know, I am in my third semester of the Nursing Program. Upon completion of this semester I will have one semester left until graduation. As excited as I am to say that out loud, I am currently in the midst of what I like to refer to as "nursing student hell". We endure this special hell reserved only for nursing students the first two weeks of each and every semester. We are required to attend class/seminar all day every day for the first two weeks, while still keeping up with our studies. Our ever stressful checkoffs are also during this time. I can't describe the torture really.... but simply stating that we endure hours upon hours of mind numbing lecture/orientation just doesn't seem to do it justice. The workload assigned for a single lecture can seem down right impossible.
Example: For one 3 hour lecture in Med-Surg over Hematology we are assigned to read 5 chapters in 3 different textbooks as well as reading from our Laboratory and Diagnostic Book. This does not include Study Guides and additional handouts. And this is just 3 out of the 8 hours we are in school on a single day. It doesn't take a mathematician to see how quickly the tasks add up.
This Semesters checkoffs will include Central Lines (dressing changes, cap changes, flusing/med administration) and Infusaports (accessing and deaccessing). While I am excited about the prospect of working with these devices, I am reminded just how serious they are and how great of a responsibility it is to care for a patient that has one. It is a little overwhelming. Thankfully check-offs aren't until Friday so I have a wee bit of time to get over my anxiety.
And now I must get back to my studies. I will update as soon as I can.
