VTech's Tragedy

Its weird that when I heard the news for a fleeting moment, which was yesterday from a minute phone call from my sister telling me "that a co-worker of hers on her lunch break called asking her what school I went to and quickly informing her about the shooting at VTech". She then quickly informed her co-worker that I attended SuchandSuch University. She told me in her head if this was occuring at my school she was ready to just walk out of work, book a ticket and be on the next flight to my city.

So I really couldnt react to the info. I was just in a stress nonreactive state of mind sudying in with my group. Here was my response "wow,seriously, 32 people died, oh my goodness, wow" (all the while three classmates staring wide eyed at me)*quickly entail the info to them*. Hang up the phone with her telling me to be aware of my surroundngs and be safe.

So I go home try to look up the info online, I'm still not reacting. Take my quizzes today, which I bombed one which I'll post about another time. Go to the gym which I havent been since February and after working out sat in the lockers lounge and watch the CNN's news coverage for 30 minutes. That one student which they titled as a hero, when asked to comment about what he thought about that*in my head I'm like what kind of question is that* he broke down and barely squeezed out that he was just glad to be here today. Boy did that do it for me. Can I say it just hit me. I mean I say that many times thank you Jesus for waking my up and blessing me with another day. Those words are never overused in my opinon because it's true. 32 people all those pictures and one sentence snid bit of info on each, accomplishement or major. I was thinking these people were more than what they were majoring, these people had a life, a family, friends.

It's weird that I feel at peace and thre's no spirit of fear upon me. After 9/11 that was a different story..took me a minute before I started flying. But now I know Christ, therefore I'm at peace. Please put the victim's and gunman's families in prayer, may they receive the spirit of comfort and peace in this time of pain, loss, and sorrow. Thank you God for your loving mercy and grace.

Two weeks and already tired.

So this is our second week of classes had three quizzes all on one day yesterday. Pharm Med Math, Adult Med Math, and a Community quiz. I believe I did well. But for some reason I've been having problems gettinng on my beat to start studying. Thank God I joined this studying group for this quarter which I have no choice but to go but at the same time we have fun doing it.

It didnt help that on Monday and yesterday I wasnt feeling well. Yesterday all I was thinking Lord please let me get thru the last quiz. He sent me an angel, my classmate and friend, to hand me some sudafed. Can I tell you not more than 5 minutes I felt soooooooooo much better, though I needed more tissue from the action of the pseudoephedrine(alpa1 agonist)which stimulates peripheral vasoconstriction basically squeezing all the mucus thru my nose out. I really felt decongested. Another thing I always find myself using what I learned in class to try and apply it on what's going on with someone I know or myself, or anything from watching House. Like last quarter during the week of finals I had diarrhea, so I was drinking a whole bunch of water cause I was thirsty, then I started feeling nausous and a bit irritable, then duuuuhhh "Fluid and Electrolyte imbalance" which was the famous topic of half of our lectures in Adult I. I diagnosed myself as having hyponatremia and possible all sorts of loss electrolytes with all that diarrhea and ingestion of water. So I quickly got me some gatorade and I was cured!!!! Diarrhea completely stopped and I felt hydrated and sane.:)

Okay on to another topic, Can I say I love my peds clinical. Why? Because its not in a hospital setting. So you wonder where will I be getting my peds clinical experience. Well it's a long term home for children who's either too sick to be home or too well to be in the hospital. These children are either victims of physical abuse resulting in head trauma, intentional or unintentional drowning accidents, MVA, and/or degenerative diseases. What we were told about each child made my heart get sad and sad and sadder. Its disheartening that most of their families arent involved. That's what made me really really sad. I could count on one hand how many of those kids parents still visited them from time to time. Plus my professor is awesome awesome.

Now the peds lecture class is another story. I had a really hard time this week staying in the class the full two hours. I sat in the back(probably that's a wrong move in itself cause I always sit in the front) and just was getting annoyed about having someone go on and on, powerpoint after powerpoint. So I took many breaks, once I stepped out for 30 minutes. This is like 16 pages with six slides on each condensed with a whole lot of information. Maybe it was because I was sick, who knows. Anyhoo at the end of each lecture she had like 10 to 15 practice question and I was able to answer them correctly even though I wasnt there the whole time. I guess that's good. I mean I did fine last week. I just was tired of all this info being thrown at us.

Other than that. I think this quarter is waaay more relaxed than this quarter. Its not because we have less work to do but I think it's because we've gotten the hang of it from last quarter. Last quarter was adjustment time. Now its just the same routine somewhat. Two days of lecture and three days of clinical. Two days of lecture and three days of clinical. and so on and son for 8 more weeks. Hey that doesnt sound bad. Only 8 more weeks after this week. Thank God. Then the last final quarter which I heard is the hardest of all 4. But I'm ready and I'm passing and my last week will be the first week of September. And I will be taking my boards in September. And I will have those two letter behind my name. In the name of Jesus. Alrighty let me do this assignment even though its due the last week of clinicals, its my way of getting out of the rut and back on the grind. Much love.

Sooooo

So I have 15 minutes to post until House comes on. Did I say I looooovee that show. Pick that over Grey's anyday.

So I think I mentioned that I was excited about my community nursing course this semester. But not too excited about my clinical assignment which is again at a posh posh retirement living facility. I was one of the unlucky ones. Oh well. So here's this email I sent to a nurse asking for a volunteering opportunites after I was referred by a nurse practioner who did my pap smear last week.

So of course some changes has been made to retain confidentiality:



Hello Nurse Such and Such,

My name is Such and Such and am currently in my 3rd quater of Such and Such's nursing program. I have a a great interest in community based and/or oriented nursing which I plan to pursue upon graduation. I was referred by Such and Such after an in-depth conversation of my interest in women's health and moreso my passion in addressing the lack of prenatal care in this country. My future goal is to enter Such and Such's Nurse Midwifery Masters Program. I believe providing my services in a community health center would in some way address the lack of prenatal care and offer an alternative choice for uncomplicated pregancies to deliver without the unwarranted medical interventions such as c-sections.

I also shared with Mrs. Such and Such my idea of implementing a prenatal house call services in my future career as a nurse midwife. I was then informed that your facility already has a similar program in place. I was both excited and delighted. I'm currently enrolled in community nursing this quater and assigned to a retirement living facility for my clinicals. Therefore, I wanted to supplement my clinical experience by actually having some exposure to my realm of interest in a community health center setting.

So, I'm asking if there's any volunteering opportunites in any of your primary care services and/or shadowing opportunies in the "Prenatal House Call" program, I would be extremely excited and grateful for the opportunity. Thank you for taking the time to read this long email.

Sincerely,
Desperate Student,SN, Future CNM