Senior Status

Well I made it through my first year of nursing school. Yay me! Surprisingly enough it actually went by much faster than I expected it would this time last year. I ended the semester with a trip to Orlando to attend the annual NTI conference hosted by the American Association of Critical-Care Nurses. It was a really amazing experience and I'm glad I went. I met a lot of influential nursing leaders, but I also got to meet other critical care nurses. Oh, did I forget to mention that I was accepted to a prestigious nursing externship for the summer? I will be working in a combined medical intensive care unit/cardiac care unit. I am so excited!! I'm really hoping to fine tune my assessment skills and learn a lot about some of the high-tech ICU equipment (ventilators, chest tubes, etc). Earning a paycheck will be AMAZING, but the learning experience with be priceless.

And may the peace of the Lord be always with you.

Why Didn't Anyone Tell Me?

Why didn't anyone tell me how much I would LOVE working as a labor and delivery nurse?! Today I had the first clinical day of my "Nursing Care of the Childbearing Family" course. Over the course of six weeks we rotate through three different units: labor and delivery, postpartum, and the NICU. Today I spent my 12 hours on the labor and delivery unit and it was AMAZING! I've never attended a live birth before, so the whole experience was entirely brand new to me. I can't give any details or tell you any stories without violating patient confidentiality. But I can say that I got to assist in a delivery, watched another delivery, and helped a laboring mom as the anesthesiologist placed her epidural. I can't explain what exactly it is that I love so much about labor and delivery. I think it was partly the atmosphere of women helping women (sorry guys). Both of the residents working today were women and all the nurses were women. I've had this vision in my head of a nurse practitioner-run women's clinic for a while now. I am in love with the idea of an holistic women's health center run by nurse practitioners that includes general health care, obstetrics and gynecology, nutritional counseling, birthing classes, parenting classes, prenatal yoga, and a natural birthing center. Maybe that is the direction I want my nursing career to take....

And may the peace of the Lord be always with you.

A Nurse's Prayer

Almighty God, Divine Healer of all,
     grant me, your handmaiden, strength and courage in my calling.
Give to my heart compassion and understanding.
Give to my hands skill and tenderness.
Give to my mind knowledge and wisdom.
Especially, Dear Lord, help me always to remember the true purpose of my vocation,
     that of selfless service and dedication to the weak and despairing in body and spirit.

Amen.

http://www.cybernurse.com/prayer.html

And may the peace of the Lord be always with you.

I miss you!

No, I haven't forgotten about my loyal friends and readers. I'm up to my eyebrows in nursing school at the moment, but my schedule will be opening up just a smidge in July. I hope to start blogging again and updating everyone on our little man cub. Until then stay hydrated, make sure to wear SPF 30 or higher, and have a great summer!

And may the peace of the Lord be always with you.

My Life

I started nursing school this week and I'm already up to my eye balls in reading. John just went to bed and it's just too nice out to stay inside. So I grabbed the baby monitor and my text book and I'm out on the porch watching the sun set behind the pond, the trees, and the pasture. Thank you, God, for my wonderful and crazy life.

And may the peace of the Lord be always with you.