Made it thru my first term of midwifery school

Yes I made it! Completed two classes successfully: Health Promotion: B and Pathophysiology: A.
I had a hard time for Health Promotion completing those papers. Plus while I was completing the paper I knew that I was going to get at least an 85 because honestly thats how much effort I put in. I just was sooooo not in the mood of doing any papers this term then I had to remind my self that I'm in grad school which equates to heap full of papers.

So it came around to registering and I dont know what I was thinking, I decided to take a full load of class mind you I am registered as part-time but you have an option as taking as many or little classes as you would like as long as you complete in the alotted 36 mos. So I registered for Decision Making(semi-looking forward to it), Nursing Theories(dread dread dread this class), and Reproductive Physiology(YEAAAAHHH!). Then I realized hey Theories has too too too many papers for my blood at this time and plus I have some life changing events going on right now which is going to require me to pick up some extra shifts. So therefore I decided last week to drop two classes and am currently enrolled in only one class: Reproductive Physiology(yeah!). I really want to know the material and not just cram obviously the information I'm required to know is pertinent in providing my moms the safe quality midwifery care. I guess this means I'll have more time to blog. Much love everyone!:)

First Week of Midwifery School

Okay so I just finished working six straight nights. Yes I am crazy but I scheduled myself so I can get six days off so I can get in a routine for school and get as much school work done as possible. Like for Health Promotions I have this essay to write thats not due until week 3, but I'm trying to complete it by this weekend. For Patho, we have an exam due by next week and I'm thinking of taking it tonight. I started studying last week and made some flash cards. I tried the flash card thing again and I realize again they are just not for me. It looks like a great study tool when I see others carrying it around and stuff and I just really cant. I've always liked powerpoints and I would put my additional notes as I pleased. So right now I'm trying to figure how I'm going to do this. I completed the flash cards for this first exam but thats the last time.

Now atyourcervix would like an update of my Frontier Bound experience. Well, I remember before applying to the school I tried to google and find as much info about other students experiences at Frontier. I cant really put into words, describing it as orientation kind of short changes the personal and bonding experiences I had with my classmates. Can I tell you my first night there I really got teary eyed, because I felt so encouraged and supported while I was there. At first I looked for a school where it wasnt a requirement to travel to the school. But I am soooo happy that Frontier requires this, I felt when I got back home I wanted to start studying asap so I could reach my goal of empowering women to acknowledge their indescribable strength to bring forth life and lucky me I get to be part of the experience. During the four days there you get to meet the faculty and dean(they are all awesome, very approachable, and knows how to have a great time) , plus we were fed 3 meals and the kitchen was open all night for pretty much anything we wanted. It really really felt very homey. Plus getting to learn from the birthplace of midwifery just makes sense. We had a chance to visit Mary Breckinridge"s home and had a lovely lovely dinner( endless of very tasty homemade lasagna warm toasty bread and the desert was whoooooo<------that says it all, I really had to repeatedly tell myself no more or else I would leave there 10lbs heavier. I got to see 100 year old books in her bedroom, one with a signature. Pretty cool stuff. I could go on and on but my eyes are getting sleepy. Plus I need to sleep before taking this exam. I know I will do well plus its great that I got a fellow frontier blogger.

MIDWIFERY here I come! Well actually SLEEP here I come. Until next time. I'll try to update more often but we'll see how it goes, I'm taking two classes Pathophysiology and Health Promotions with goal of finishing the program in 30 months. 27months=full time. 36months=Part time. Plus for some reason they really discouraged not to choose full time that was very interesting. I already had in mind that I was going part time, but for the other classmates who chose otherwise some started second guessing themselves. I was like you know what you can handle, if full time is your choice then push come to shove you just have to do what you gotta do to successfully complete in 27 mos. Regardless majority of my classmates remained with their initial choice. Okay I really need to sleep, Night Night or Good Morning for the normal people.

Frontier Bound

My last day at Frontier Bound and can I say that I am totally excited! I am sooooooooo happy that I chose Frontier to embark in my journey of becoming a midwife. WHOOOOOHOOO!!! Can you feel my excitement. okay gotta go to sleep gotta hit the road early, so I can take a nap and work tomorrow night.

The Beginning of June

One more week until Frontier Bound, doing overtime, ran 3 miles today in training for a half marathon, still up at 2 am because I slept during the day because I worked last night, loving life and feeling blessed, in search of a church where I can spiritually grow, wondering when am I going to get married, wondering if I even want to right now, just wanna give a 100% at whateva I do, will try not to do 4 nights in a row especially when the last night we're short staffed, I miss my girlfriends, moving to a new town equates to me needing to go out and mingle which leads to I'm too tired at times, everything takes 30-45min to get somewhere, gas is no joke. The END

Overtime....Glad a NICU Nurse!

So last week I did some serious over time. I did a straight 20hr stint. 16 of these hours I was on the floor and the other four I was in class to get certified in administering moderate sedation. Can I say when I got home I slept for a straight 17hrs. Plus during this week I took the NRP which I passed! Yeeeah, I feel more comfortable now as far as being able effectively intervene for my babies when they're trying to die on me. It so happens twice during this week while I've been on a baby tried dying on us. Can I say a rush of adrenaline and TEAMWORK is so crucial. But I guess thats what I love about my unit, there is defintely teamwork. I'm glad that I chose this speciatlty in my transition of a novice nurse. I really needed that supportive environment. I did a day rotation in L&D,Mother/Baby,Antepartume,and Newborn Nursery and the end result I thank GOD for leading me in my path. Because other than that I think it would have definitely turned me off from nursing. And I remember when I asked for a positin in Mother/Baby I thank God the recruiter stated they didnt take new graduates there. That was I first for me but I think God spoke thru her because thru our residency program I met 3 new grads started there and on already quit after less than two months. She felt her license was in jeopardy. Can you imagine taking care of 8 couplets?

I thought mother/baby would have been a good experience since I was trying to go to midwifery school asap. But God had other plans for me and again thank you JESUS. I feel that I can utilize my NICU experience being that I'll feel more comfortable in handling that 2-4% babies who needs help in transitioning into extrauterine life. Plus that extra critical pay that I get for overtime isnt too bad also.:)

Now I'm just counting down to FRONTIER BOUND!!! WHOOOHOO!!!!

Acceptance Excitement Still There

The excitement of geting accepted to nurse-midwifery school still hasnt settled down. I'm just as excited as when I opened that email and just started thanking God and having a praise party. God has blessed me in so many ways especially in answering my educational requests. I am very blessed and grateful. Today in the mail I received a plump envelope in the mail with my name on it. Instantly I thought, my sister didnt tell me she was sending me anything. And I looked at the return address and saw it was from Frontier. I was all excited rushing to get into the house to open it like a christmas gift. I thought maybe it was some paperwork of some sort to fill out. But instantly scracthed that thought because it was so thick and I opened it...........there inside is a novel titled " Wide Neighborhoods: A Story of the Frontier Nursing Service". I am soooo happy. I love reading and receiving this book confirmed my decision in attending this school with such a rich rich history and an awesome reputation in the midwifery world. I already feel and sense the support that will be provided thru this program. So I just wanted to share and now I'm off to my bed to immerse myself in the mountains of eastern kentucky. Plus I am really happy that I have a fellow blogger ahead by a term and which we can share our thoughts and experiences with each other.

NURSE MIDWIFERY

I GOT ACCEPTED!!!!!!!!!!! CNM in the MAKING!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! I"M SO FREAKIN EXCITED!!!!!!!!!!!!!! WHOOOOOOOOOOOHOOOOO!!! THANK YOU JESUS!!!!!!

3hrs in the Life of a L&D Nurse

So thru my hospital we have a nurse residency program in which we're taught materials from the AWHONN module materials. SO these past two weeks we went thru the Labor and Delivery process. I really loved it. I really had a sense of appreciation. i say that because while in the accelerated nursing program I really didnt have the time to appreciate the material. Plus our professor seemed like she was on her menstrual for the whole 3 mos. which we found out she was at the end of her doctorate program which consisted of long nights of getting ready for her dissertation.

Anyhoo, I love these classes, so we went on the floor and I was the only one paired up with the nurse who had a patient in labor or in the process of being induced for labor. I got to hang the holy grail of Pitocin. The end result of my experience is that I loved my interaction with the mom and family. But I didnt feel that the doctor/resident did not take the time to explain to mom what she was going to do beforehand. Only explained she was doing a cervical check but while she was in there she ruptured the membrane which produced +1 meconium amniotic fluid. Went ahead and inserted a fetal scalp and contraction monitor. And she left. The nurse then cleaned changed the chuck and stepped out to get something to hook her to the monitor.

I told her that she can hold my hands and squueze if need be thru the whole procdure and chanted some encouragement and for her to focus on me. It seem to work. Then when I saw no explanation was done I went ahead and did the patient teaching. She was concern about her fluid being green and I explained that her baby had a little poop in her tummy and that most likely peds would be there when she was ready to deliver to make sure everything was okay with baby to address and issues that could arise from meconium aspiration. In which the resident felt that it wasnt a great concern due to lightness of green signifying a small amount. And that they inserted a little probe on her baby's scalp to monitor his heart rate along with her contractions. She also wanted to know how long she would be having the baby which I again informed her that being that this is her first pregnancy based on stats it takes the average primip 12hrs of labor, but also informed everyone is different and that it can be shorter or longer.

What I really disliked was that when the resident came in the room she asked the mom if she's okay with her mom, brother, and father being in the room while she did the exam. Mom clearly said yeah she was okay with it. But I guess the noise level in the room was too much for MD in whcih decided to boot everyone out. In my head I was like what da hell, isnt this a family centered facility, and at least keep the dad in the room. Now that I think about it I should have spoke up at this time. Other than that it was a great experience and enjoyed it more than my nursing school rotation.

Sent my midwifery application off and have a scheduled phone interview. I'm really psyched. I cant wait to be a midwife.

Unclear

Well here's the dilemma, I really want to work with adolescent/underserved mom as far as providing midwifery care. But at the same time I would really like to work in a birthing center environment without all the medicalized interventions which equates to low risk pregnancy. Which the moms I would like to provide care for does not fall into that category. But I have a preceptor offer in which it would be in a birthing center which I am totally psyched. Maybe I could provide prenatal care for this population and still provide midwifery services in a birthing center. Maybe thru my prenatal teaching this population thru behavioral changes decrease their risk. ooooooh I dont know, meaning its time to pray!

Its been so long

Well HAPPY NEW YEAR!(3mos too late) Its been a whole 9 months since I've last updated. I SURVIVED the BSN accelerated program. Graduated past Septempber. NICU nurse for past 3mos. Almost off of orientation. Process of applying to Midwifery school. Looking into registering for a DOULA workshop hopefully thru ALACE. And thats about it! HAPPY and BLESSED! AND will be updating more in detail soon..hopefully:)