The Little "+"s

Kudos to K & R for this idea.

+ Two shifts on Surgery this week. Smiling like an idiot, because it's what I'm supposed to be doing.

+ New standalone Starbucks. 

+ Sleeping in this morning.

+ Late night cuddles & laughs with the siblings.

+ Going to watch Oz The Great And Powerful with Sister. Realizing it's a kid's movie.

+ Sunny weather and spring.

+ Hanging out with 1st & 2nd & 3rd year nursing students. Unite!

+ Dressing up for a banquet.

+ Fun lifeguarding shifts. 

Life has so many pluses. Why focus on the negatives???

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Scrubs Style

I know, I know, in what universe are nursing scrubs considered "style". Well, none, but since I chose a career where high heels, flashy bracelets, and lipstick are out, I decided to do some pics of my normal daily outfit {especially for the next seven weeks :)}.

Not gonna be lie, I'm looking forward to the day when I can be more choosy in my scrubs choice :)

Happy Wednesday!

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OSCEs 101

As some a few most of you know, I did my OSCE {Observed Structured Clinical Examination} on Monday. 

I PASSED!!!

However, I would just like to share with you the moments leading up to and within this practical exam.

1. Scrambling to figure out what content we'll be tested on and what content will be left out.
2. Stress headaches . . . or as I am now calling them . . . stressaches.
3. Chips & Cheesecake. Yep. I'm not proud. One whole month of no sugar or chips down the drain. Hey kids, don't eat junk food while under studying stress. It doesn't help.
4. Role playing clinical scenarios.
5. Waking up at 4am and wondering why.
6. Shaking uncontrollably while attempting to draw up Demerol. Those ampoule openings never seemed so small.

However all of that was not in vain, because there are no more OSCEs . . . EVER! That's right, I just completed my fourth out of four, and I couldn't be happier. I said to a friend yesterday, now I can graduate, haha.

Also a little funny picture of me practicing NG tubes for your viewing pleasure.

I think I missed my nose. And I look a little crazy. I probably was.

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Friday's Letters

Linking up early with Ashley from Adventures of Newlyweds for her weekly "Friday's Letter's".

Dear Third Year: You are everything and nothing like I planned. I'm so nervous and excited all in one bundle. Help? Dear Once Upon A Time: NINE DAYS! Dear Brother: Random pizza and Booster Juice dates are the best. Let's never stop doing that, okay? Dear Burn-Victim-Simulation-Lab: I will never be as unprepared for anything else in life as I was for you. Let's all agree to forget that disheartening moment in my training. Dear Dan Bremnes Concert: There are no words. The Lord truly works through your music and the message that goes with it. Dear Fall: I love your yellow, falling leaves. Dear Whose Line Is It Anyways: Why ever did you stop? YouTube reruns will have to suffice. Dear Fiction: I miss reading you. Come back into my life. Dear Kate: Phone calls with you are the best. I miss you. Dear Meal Planning: Still searching for you.

Happy Weekend! ♥

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No. 252 - Call Me 2nd Year One More Time . . .

So . . . I AM OFFICIALLY DONE 2ND YEAR OF SCHOOL.

Yes, this is me burning some of my second year schedule.

Yes, I know that is a bit extreme and dramatic.

But you would be extreme and dramatic too if you were in my shoes.

Also, here are some pictures from our 2nd year celebration!

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No. 172 - Nursing in an Ethical Dilemma & OUAT

I just thought everyone should see the finished product of why I have been a hermit for
the last month. Today I am turning in my scholarly paper! 9 pages! 25 references!
16 journal articles! Two copies! Yay, finished! It is always a scary thing to hand
in a paper, considering there is probably something I could still tweak,
but I've put it in the envelope and am ready to drop it off.

This was definitely the most difficult paper to write so far (I guess that's the point, things get harder as you get farther along in school). I think the biggest thing I learned though was that nursing care is not as black-and-white as I thought, especially when you throw in components such as dying or culture. Anyways, I'm crossing my fingers for an A 

(especially in regards to my inconsistent quiz marks). 

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As some of you know, I am slightly obsessed with the new show "Once Upon A Time". To explain it would make me sound ridiculous, but I haven't been this invested in TV since LOST. Anyways, here are a couple thoughts on last night's episode "Fruit of the Poisonous Tree".

• I love that the Magic Mirror used to be the genie from Aladdin. Great plot point!
• When David and Mary Margaret met at the T(r)oll Bridge, I felt, at first, like I should feel guilty supporting their romance because he's married. But then I was like, they were married first as Snow and James and then, they got screwed over! Guilt went away.
• I started the episode feeling sorry for Regina, but by the end I was back to refraining from calling her bad words.
• I hate snakes, especially two-headed ones that slither under your bedcovers and bite you on the neck.
• Graham's walkie-talkies!
• What is up with the mystery guy?
• Next episode: Claire from LOST as Belle!!!!!!!!!!!!!

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No. 159 - You Know You're A Nursing Student When...

Sometimes on my study breaks, I look at funny nursing student forums that are all too funny and *shifty eyes* real. So I thought I'd share a few of the great ones.

You know you're a nursings student when . . .

• You've read more Potter and Perry than Harry Potter.
• Your hands are so dry from "proper" hand-washing and alcohol-based rubs that they are beginning to crack.
• Your friends ask for a diagnoisis on something just to save them a trip to the doctors and are quite upset when you tell them you have no idea, and they should go and see the doctor.
• You secretly hope your patient has high blood sugar so you can give an insulin injection.
• You sit and watch Grey's Anatomy and House just to point out to those around you how things are NEVER like that in real life.
• When you're referencing books for your APA paper, and you need to type the Publishing Company (eg. Mosby or Lippincott), you don't even have to look at the city in which it's been published in because you've typed it so many times! For example, St. Louis: Mosby, or Philadelphia: Lippincott.
• You've diagnosed yourself throughout school with whatever ailment you happen to be studying at the time.
• The night before clinical you’re so anxious you can’t get a decent night’s sleep, and until you’re 2 hours into your shift your stomach is in knots.
• You can take a morning break, but you don’t want to because you might miss out on some big experience.

A little humour from the nursing student found somewhere in the cave of textbooks and journal articles with empty mugs and glasses everywhere. :)

No. 83 - Nametag

No more first year business!