Well...there it is.

Just finished a pharm quiz on anticoagulants...yayee.
So busy just now, it's driving me crazy.

Bub's getting over some wierd tummy virus that gave him diarrhea w/o a fever. I think Joe's next and me too if I'm not careful. I just keep eating my vitamins and plow on.

I have a HESI for foundations on Thurs (HESI is a hugely hard and crabby standardized test that we HAVE to get a 850 or higher on....bleah....) Next week I have pharm exam #6, Pharm lab practical, and Pharm HESI. BLEAH!!!

But! after that there is only finals and clinicals before Christmas break...so I need to hang on until then cuz the end is nigh.

Anyhow.
Loves to you all!
N.

PS- Mom & Dad, incase I don't get a chance to call this wk (studying vs sleeping) I got the apples and they are yummy! I was so glad you ran into Mike & Bobbi too! I hope you gave them a big hug for me!!!!!! NUBS!

tired tired tired

very tired.
very very tired
SOOO tired...

I just read 7 chapters about cardiac & related drugs.
half of these drugs do 5 different things and the other half have the most bizarre names like fluortetrahydrocondithiaminephrenia
...ok, I'm exaggerating, but still....what the cob? who are these people who name this stuff?
They deserve to be locked up in a room filled with the most boring people for 1 week a year just to comprehend what mass confusion/frustration they have initiated with these drug names.

And in boring...I mean people like the insurance sales man in "groundhog day"... -that- kind of boring person. not dull necessarily...more like annoying but polite so you have no tangible reason to smack them in the face...EVEN THO you REALLY WANT TO....you know?

ok, my sleep deprived mind is jumping off at the deep end. I think to sleep, perchance to dream would be an excellent idea for this student nurse.....

Nitey nite.
Neebs

PS- Bub starts the horseback riding therapy next week! YAYEE!

crow pie

After being chastized by my big-little bro for mentioning that I miss Dawn's blogging updates, I realized I had been somewhat neglectful of my own...so I had better put something up PDQ (or since I have to use medical abbreviations...."STAT and prn")

Well, I'm still sitting w/ a high B average that the OCD part of me is very unhappy with, but the realistic part of me (the part that actually wants more than 4 hours of sleep a night) is QUITE happy with.

I got invited to join Phi Theta Kappa, the 2-yr college version of Phi Beta Kappa...so I s/b pretty darn happy that I'm getting a B and retaining my sleep and sanity.

I realized that doing my reading via computer is NOT a good fit for me. I am not able to read as quickly and I don't retain as much as when I use my actual book. However, I do VERY well taking notes in class ON my computer, since I can type fast, have good accuracy, and don't need to look at my fingers now that I am used to typing on a smaller than standard keyboard
(Boy am I GLAD I never liked having long fingernails)

Because of HIPPA laws, I am not able to write or talk about my actual clinical experience, and no I will not make exceptions because I really don't like the idea of being fined outrageous amounts of money and possible criminal consequences...so I will just say, I felt silly....I felt like I didn't do enough, I felt like I should have taken more charge and did less pussy-footing...but I was nervous, and I didn't want to be too intrusive.
Then while reflecting on the experience as I did my HOUR DRIVE BACK TO SCHOOL *huff* I decided that if I am afraid of being intrusive, I need to get over it, cuz if I'm not being "intrusive" I could end up really hurting someone thru lack of care or negligence, so I HAVE to get over it.
What's really hard for me, is that I am not a very good chit-chatter-er, so I have to get better at that to help me create a level comfort and trust, esp if I'm going to be doing a lot of ...well, what I had to do.... use your imagination. :p

Well, back to studying for my Monday test. (yes, there is a major test EVERY monday)

Loves to all! Neebs!

Week 2 done

I am now officially CPR certified, for adults, children & infants.

I spent 1/2 hr lab time practicing ROMs today (range of motion)
Me & a classmate started singing "neck, elbow, wrist & hands;wrists & hands" to the tune of "head, fingers knees & toes" to help us remember which joints need to be hyperextended.

I keep wanting to say "exsistential" instead of extension..... is that weird or what?

let's see if I can do the list by memory:

Neck:
flexion
extension
hyperextention
lateral flexion
side to side

Shoulder:
flexion
extension
internal rotation
external rotation
abduction
adduction
circumvention

Elbow:
flexion
extension
hyperextension
supination
pronation

Wrist
flexion
extension
hyperextension
adduction
abduction

fingers:
flexion
extensio
hyperextension
abduction
adduction

thumb:
flexion
extension
abduction
adduction
opposition

Hip;
flexion
extension
abduction
adduction
internal rotation
external rotation
circumvection

knee:
flexion
extension

ankle:
dorsal flex
plantar flex

foot/toes:
inversion
eversion
flexion
extention
adbuction
adduction

I have to name each movement as I do it and name the joint it's for.

I need to know that I need to do ROM w/ clients 3-4 times a day, both sides of body, 5 reps on each joint.

I need to know that I have to support the joints while I am doing the ROMs

That, PLUS a test on 8 chapters in pharmacology on monday.....

Not mentioning what is due on Tuesday...hi-ya.....

Nubs!

I just want to say that I am tired

BUT,
I did figure out how to type an outline on my MS word while reading the textbook that is on my computer. (no book to PC, PC to book...it's all electronic baby....)

(Mom is prolly thinking ..."Oy! The machina!!!!" *insert bizarre ukie expression like...."may a pickle grow out of your nose," or "you wear the shoe of a dog"*)

I'm glad I opted for a wide screen laptop.

I'm almost used to the smaller keyboard...I'm not having as many typos as I initially did.

NEW MUPPETHEAD RULE

Do not read a chapter without outlining it at the same time....this will save you time, effort, and sanity....in theory anyhow...

NEW MUPPETHEAD RULE OVER

Bub wasn't as off today as he was yesterday...but he was a tired and crabby little guy. Dorlaine suggested that he might be tired b/c he's afraid to sleep after the nightmare he had 2 nights ago...I think she may be right....but warm soy milk, baby einstein number's nursery, and pooh-bear lullaby's player got him asleep around 8:38 (that's when I was able to sneak out of his room).
I tried bring bub up to the alter during the children's message during church today. He wasn't as disruptive as usual...I'm still debating whether or not to participate with the children's message. Bub seems to distract the other kids from what Pastor Coleman is saying....yet, sometimes I think Bub is trying to follow along, but just can't focus long enough to get engaged. I try to help by signing main words to bub, and try to get him to sign along...it's only minimumly helpful...

It's so hard to know what to do to balance what I think (hope) Bub needs spiritually, and the needs of the rest of the congregation....BUT, Bub is a hit when it's time to share the peace, cuz he LOVES to shake hands & give occasional hugs to random people.

I'm going to bed now.

Love you all!!!
Neebs

Saturday 08/30

original title, eh?

Just proud to say the only thing left due on Tuesday that I haven't done is the client history form...I should have that done tomorrow after I call my Dad...cuz he's cool like that.

I finished reading all the Tuesday requirements, it took like 3 or 4 sessions b/c mr. man kept deciding he needed his momma today. He had some pretty BIG sensory issues today. woke up with night terrors last night...since he can't tell me what they were about, I try to guess, but can't.
Hopefully he will sleep well tonite.

Tomorrow I will do the study guides for the chapters I read, then I will start the readings due on Wednesday & review the readings I did last week... *whoosh!*

Reminder...I need Mom to walk me thru the prep work for the eggplant caviar recipe...I tried it & it was all wonky so I tossed it before finishing because it looked disasterous!

let's see if I can find a recent pict of bub for us all....
Nubs!

Brain fry

THIS, THIS is my upcoming week....

Sept. 1-5 outline

9/1- no class, labor day

9/2 DUE:

Pharm Lab: p. 53 & 73 complete

830-1130 Client history form

Math quiz in class

Read Mulholland 1, 2, 3

Found Lab: Clinical check-off- gloves, hand-washing, iso prep & deprep (blue folder)

1230-1530 Drug bios (blue folder)

Read Harkreader: 95-112, 138-145, 177-181, 826-859

Read Elkin: 124-131, 257-264, 297-303

Quiz in class

Bring supply bag

9/3 DUE:

Clinicals: Read Harkreader 113-137

700-1100 Read Elkin 230-256

Bring steth & arm cuffs (vital signs)

Crit. Thinking learning styles website exercise (bring with)

1200-1500 4-circle worksheet

Castillo: ex. on p. 77-78

9/4 Due:

Pharm Lect: Review Lilley chpt. 1-5

930-1130 Read Lilley chpt. 6-9

Found Lect; Review Harkreader: chpt. 1-2

1230-1530 Read Harkreader: chpt. 3,4,&5

Yayee me.....

Currently, I have 9/2 Pharm Lab work done....
and I have started on my drug sheets, but I am not sure I am doing them right.

Most of me is thinking....Do the best you can, just get it done and you will know EXACTLY what they want next time once you see the corrections....

MEANWHILE....
The small, but internally vociferous perfectionist part of me is screaming "MUST GET IT PERFECT THE 1ST TIME &%^%&$*#&%$*!!!!!"

So I am in conflict & having a hard time focusing on it. I keep flopping my book down, and then sighing deeply & picking it up again & screwing up my forehead in concentration only to rinse, repeat.

To break the viscous cycle, I decided to hide out here for a few min and have my moment of pitiness. ... ... is that a word??

I am thinking about removing the slide show I have of bub on my sidebar of my PC because I find myself getting distracted by the cuteness of bub....oh! tHERE Goes the lollipop picture! Bub LOVES him a lolly. There is not much that kid won't do for a lolly.
Anyhoo...this is how I procrastinate...
At least it's semi-entertaining for some of the people that love me....

(wistful hope)

i need to go back and finish the Asprin write up. I finished the Acetaminaphen already. Once asprin is done I only have 3 more left.


OHHHH! really quick and cute!!!
Yesterday, me n Mr. Man went grocerying, and while in the check-out line, bub was looking at the tabloid covers and kept pointing at one with some actress and her baby, so I said, "Yes bub, that's a baby...how do you say baby with your hands?" (I ask him stuff like that all the time with out HUGELY expecting a response) would you know it? my little man signed "baby" with out me modeling it for him at all. he then spent the next 2-3 min pointing at the baby, laughing, and signing "baby"....

Is that awesome or what?

Really I gotta finish that aspirin sheet...I only have the drug interactions/incompatiblities and Nursing interventions left....I did the rest....*sigh*

NUBS a fried neebs.

one midnight gone!

real quick cuz I am tired and already feeling brain-fried.

1st day was good. I'm glad I have pharmacology in the am CUZ the room is SUPER hot in the afternoons!
I have a quiz tomorrow.....on 2 chapters.
I know the 1st chapter really well, but my brain began to fuzz out on me during the 2nd one, still I got all but 3 of the review questions done with very minimal double checking. I left 3 undone for tomorrow b/c I'm not sure where in the chapter I will find the info & I am too tired OF it to do it now,...

Love you all!
PS- Bub had a GREAT day..

quote from his teacher

"He stayed in his assigned area and did not need to be removed from group at all"

Flippin' beautiful! Seriously! :)


Neebs

Last day of freedom...for the next 16 mo. anyhow..

On the eve of starting Nursing school, I'm actually feeling pretty relaxed & ready to go to bed. (It's about 11:15pm)
I am going to be getting up at 5am tomorrow...not for me however, for BUB.

As always, no one in the school system is able to let me know bub's bus route # nor what time the bus will come. As I missed the bus on the 1st day of ESY, bub and I will be in the front room waiting for the bus no later than 6am. I'm excited because bub and I will be able to watch PBS mr. rogers! "It's such a good feeling to know you're alive....it's such a happy feeling (sing with me) you're growing inside...."

Yayee!

Joe has the day off in case of any Bub emergencies on the 1st day of school. So I am not stressing out for once. (can you believe it?)

I have all my laundry washed and put away (except 1 load currently in the dryer), bub's room has been cleaned and reorganized. Bub's breakfast, Lunch and snack are all packed & in the fridge, his backpack is ready...

I think I shall go off to bed now..... love to all!!!

1st day and already feeling overwhelmed....

So, I had nursing school boot-camp day #1 today. The whole day was in a nutshell...


" This is going to be hard as hell. You better study....we're going to make sure you study your A** off ... we're going to be SOOOO in your business with ALL kinds of support systems in place to make sure you study....so you better study....."


I'm not kidding. I am exaggerating a bit....no one actually used any profanity at all today. but the rest is pretty dead on.

I have a web site that I have to study on, and it tracks what I will do, and how long I spend doing it for at least one of my instructors....

I have loaded all my books onto my laptop and I can access all my textbooks online so even if I forget a book at home, I can read it if I have my laptop or even access to a public computer.

I had to figure out how to make an exception to my firewall to get that feature to work.

But I am excited....like Red riding hood in "into the woods"...."excited and scared" ....remember.... "nice is different from good."

I expect I am tired.

BUT!!!! One of my classmates is going to give me a few contact names of semi-local speech therapists! Yayee! I hope one of them will work out to have bub get extra speech therapy beyond what he will be receiving in school.

Anyhow....love to you all...from a very tired nina....

Man alive

Arrgh.
So I just bought my books and supply bag for my nursing program....$779.94.

Can you believe it? I got 12 books, 2or 3 CD thingies, and a bag full of catheter trays, syringes, fake "IV" solutions (read the fine print and you will find they contain either non-sterile water or isotonic salt water) and some IV drips. I still have to buy a stethoscope, scrubs, shoes, watch, arm-pressure thingy (is it a manometer?).
Also,I have to get CPR certified, get a TB scratch test, and get my last booster for hep B.
Finally, I have to go register at some "evolve" site that allows me to access all my books online from any PC, so that is pretty cool, I just have to do it. *sigh*
Yikes. So much to do.

on the plus side....I discovered a homemade chicken nugget that Bubbie likes. :)
Dorlaine has helped me overcome my fear of deep frying, and if I coat cooked chicken in a mix of rice and corn flour with salt, pepper, and soy milk (I just eyeballed it) it cooks really fast and is quite yummy with honey (or so says the speed in which it was eaten by mr Man)

Loves to all! I had a great visit and miss you all already!

n

Random Microbiology comment

I tell you, you HAVE to have a basic understanding of organic chemistry and bond theory to even come close to understanding the glycolytic pathway, Krebs cycle, and ETC.

Didn't get it before I did some basic Org Chem...now I get it.

But how long I will remember that NAD+ + P1 -----> NADH and that 1 NADH nets 3 ATP....
"the world will never know......*Crunch* (Hoo Hoo)"


N.


PTTTBBth!

Reflection on my 2nd Chemistry Test...

So here I am feeling all depressed. Not because I did bad...I did good (don't know the grade yet tho, but I knew what I was doing on the test, so that's a good sign, right?!?!)
I feel bad, b/c as soon as I finished and got into lab, one of the other "returning to school momma's" said to me, "I hope you didn't get 100% this time and ruin our curve".

Now what kind of horrible thing is that to say? I worked REALLY hard to do good on this test. I skipped an autism event that I was really looking forward to for over a month to study because I felt I didn't know the material well enough. I DO NOT miss autism events for things that aren't just as important to me.

Now I understand that I am not a single mom that has to work full or half-time, take care of the kids and do 12+ hrs of school. I get that, but still, I worked my tail off and it really bums me out that people resent me for that. It's not like in high school where I got A's and B's and didn't even work at it....my brain isn't that great anymore....I have to drill myself and hold myself to a disciplined plan to make sure I understand the concepts. I swear, for each concept it takes me 1/2 hour- 1 hour to fully understand it and be able to do a problem correctly without having to check the sample problems while doing the problem I'm working on. (did that make sense, or did I get rambly?) So to complete each chapter's homework, I'm spending an average of 2-4 hours a day on it. (some days that's all I do while Mr. Man's at school....other days I try to do householdy type stuff....grocerying, cleaning, laundrying, etc....) (like my gerrunding?) *THHPT*

On the other hand, my lab partners love me because I do the equations......and we do the lab right and get out pretty fast.....

*MOMENT OF SARCASM*

Send me pity so I can sit in the corner and say..."poor me....I have to work hard to get good grades.....oh life is so hard...."

*MOMENT OF SARCASM ENDED*

I like the "moment of sarcasm". It made me laugh a bit....I think I will make it a semi-regular feature......
What do you think?

FYI-
I think Joe's almost got the picture part of the PC fixed so I can post pictures of Bub's 1st day of school and my new short hair soon.
(that's right, I CHOPPED it off!!!!! Nearly bald girl posting! (not really nearly bald...that was a joke....."go on and laugh boy!".....) (you get points if you know who I was quoting......)


LOVES!!!!!
(i feel better now)

Another example of my nerdiness

So, as I posted last night I did my art project b4 I went to bed. I wasn't REALLY happy with it, and kept thinking about how I wasn't REALLY happy with it. I showed it to Dorlaine, and She's SO sweet, but I know it wasn't very good. See here.



The project is to Show 4 out of the 9 principles of the illusion of Depth.

So, Even I think this is not good, so while Mr. Bub is sleeping I try again, and come up with this one.


I like it better, but for some reason it makes me thin of those old Bombay Gin ads....
FYI the 9 principle of the illusion of depth are:
1:Relative size (scale)
2:Overlap
3:Position/veritical rise
4:Relative value
5:Atmospheric Perspective (fuzzy and dark in the distance)
6:Linear Perspective (parallel lines meet at horizon)
7:Foreshortening
8:Isometric Perspective (rectangles become paralellograms, and circles become ovals)
9:Warm colors advance and cool colors retreat

And knowing me, anything I do will have to have some kind of surreal-type influence.

So we'll see how this turns out.
Love to all!

Whew!

Finished all my tests and projects for this CrazY-WeeK-Of-INSAnity-That's-nOt-MidTerMs-but-SURE-FEELS-THAT-WAY

I have spring break off next week (wah? Shouldn't that be near Easter????!)
So, since we don't do Midterms, they give us tests and tell us they aren't mid-terms...
Get it? I'm still confused on that one....

Anyhow, I finished my Art-Appreciation project just a while back & am taking a few moments to play on my blogs before I hit the sack.
The HUGE Human Development test I was SOOO worried about? I got an A! Yayee!!!

This is how big a nerd I am during tests:
1- I answer all the questions.
2-I go thru my answers to make sure I still agree with them & mark the ones I question my first impression on.
3-I go thru the ones I marked to triple check, and change them depending on my confidence level.
4-I sit & stare at the scan-tron and count: a- how many questions I changed answers to, and b. how many I marked.
5- I then make sure I am comfortable with the idea that everyone of those questions I just counted could be wrong, and is that I grade I can live with?
6- If "yes", turn in
7-If "no", secretly bite my nails & turn it in anyhow.

What made this experience worse/better...was he was grading it for us right away, so no suspense. UNFORTUNATELY, I sit in the front (b/c I am a nerd...proud of it....) So I hear the comments he makes to my classmates as he shows them their score. Most of what I heard was "you can do better.", "I hope you do better next test", etc... *"shake in boots"mode*

So after completing steps 1-5, I realize I could have upto 15 out of 100 wrong. My Prof put the scale on the whiteboard, and 15 off would put me at a B, so I do the secret nail bite & go to the "DESK OF DOOM" (ba-ba-ba-boom) ONLY 10 of the 15 wrong! PLUS! I got 2 extra credit points for a in-class project I did a couple weeks ago! So I had a 92 & the cut off was 90.

THEN to compound the nerd-within, after I get a compliment from him for paying attention in class, I start walking to my car, realized I am SO jittery from the anticipation of this test & then the resulting calm (?) of passing well, I do not think I can drive safely. The closest approximation I have to this is MAYBE when I drove from MN to TX in July 98 (shane's wedding) by myself, and didn't stop for the night anywhere and was hopped up on NO-DOZ and coffee... THAT kind of shaky, where if you HAVE to drive you can, but it's better if you don't, you know? So I kill time & call Joe until my equilibrium has returned.

So long story short. I am the ultimate nerd. and I'm getting old, now that I know better than to push myself too hard. Oh, the joy of youthful stupidity vs the ability to laugh your pants off at yourself.

Love to all, please don't tease me too hard on this one.
;P

I did it!

I am registered for 12 credits. Yes, 12. wow.

I guess dragging my family across country & reversing job roles with my husband IS all it takes to get me back in school.
*giggle*

BIG huge thank you goes out to my Joe, for helping me not be afraid to just go for it.
I love my Joe.

WOO HOO!

Got college acceptance letter yesterday. Have to make appt w/ an advisor soon. They didn't include a name or number to call. oh well. If I could clog to motivate my employees years ago, I can embarrass myself a little more by calling around & feeling stupid. :)

At least I never wore an orange tablecloth & danced to the Cure. Butter-knives anyone? how about peanut thai sauce?