At the mall...

Nathan kept trying to push Bob off. It was pretty funny.

Status Update

Well, I have been a nurse now for seven months. Time has flown by so fast and even though I still have so much to learn, I feel I'm getting the hang of it. I love the hospital I am at, but I don't plan on staying here forever. As an Army Brat I have a constant supply of "ants in my pants."
Our schedules are in periods of six weeks. I keep going back and forth between night and day shift. Everyone on both shifts keep telling I'm crazy for going back to the "other" shift. But I like both for different reasons. Days I have more chances to do certain things like blood transfusions, starting Foley's and what not. On the other hand days are so busy with running around it is easy to get burned out. Night shift you have more time for patient education and you actually have time to sit down. But on the other hand it can get REALLY boring and there is more time for drama between co-workers. After six weeks of one shift I am so ready to go back to the other. And on that note, I have one more week of night shift before six weeks of days. Pretty excited! I miss the sun.

Graduation!

Mom, dad and me on the night I was pinned a nurse. Mom dropped my pin while dad tried to get me to pose for a picture in front of the entire room. Aww, memories! :)  Dec 16, 2011

Memorial Day Weekend 2012 at the Mangum's

Time to play some serious catch-up on the blog. I got to spend Memorial Day weekend at Rachael and Brad's house. Lots of good food and fun!

Mary Westhoff, RN

Yesterday, at 7:30 am, I entered the testing center in ABQ, NM. After finger prints, palm vein prints, a photo, turning my pockets inside out, patting myself down, taking my watch off, and locking all my stuff away...I started the NCLEX! I was freaked out the minute I got the first question. It was pretty hard. As I was taking it the test stopped and offered me a break. This made me realize that two hours had already past. Raised my hand and waited for the proctor to come a get me, walk me out, check my palm vein print again, and then I was able to go to the bathroom. I stretched in the hall, had a bite of my granola bar, few sips of water, had my pain vein read again, was escorted back to my computer, (which had a picture of me on the screen), put my ear plugs back in and continued on. On question 89 or 90, the test stopped and told me I was done. I started to freak. I had only been in there for 3 hours. The test could run 75 to well over 200 questions and last up to 6 hrs. I did not know what to make of it. After a panicked call to my mom, I decided to go to the temple. It was great and just what I needed.

The day before I had a job interview in Grants on the way to ABQ. I really wanted it and knew I had to pass the NCLEX to get it... or any job for that matter. This morning I was babysitting Nathan and got a call from them. They told me the job was mine pending I pass the NCLEX ("We mean WHEN you pass."). I knew then a lot was riding on my test results. Plus, I was not expecting to hear about the job till next week.

In New Mexico you have the option to pay $10 to find out your unofficial results two days after the exam. Then it could take weeks to post and be official. Then and only then can you legally work. Well, this afternoon I happened to look at my phone and saw I had an email from some person I did not know. I hesitantly opened it to read it was from a woman at the New Mexico State Board of Nursing office. "Congratulations you passed your nursing exam!" I could not believe it! "You have officially been issued a NM license. It can be verified on the NM Nursing Board website at http://www.bon.state.nm.us/ with in 48 hours." A friend and classmate tonight told me I was already on the website and here is the proof! I still can't believe it.
Thank you to my family for your love and support. Most of all thank you to my mom and dad! Thanks for believing in me even when I did not! Love you guys!
(and note that the license is a multi-state compact!)

Fall Class 2011!

Well it's official, my forth and last semester of nursing school is over. Our pinning ceremony was on the 16th of Dec and as of today I am scheduled to take the NCLEX (nursing boards) on January 4th!!!! I can't believe it. I am so excited and freaked out at the same time. I even have a few job options already! Can't wait to see what the new year has in store for me!

My Free Scrubs!

A long time ago I joined the Facebook page of my favorite brand of scrubs, KOI! They are such a great brand. They don't shrink or fade, they are soft, and so cute! LOVE THEM! Early in November I by chance saw a contest they were having on their page. I never win anything, but then again I hardly ever enter to win anything. In order to enter all I had to do was "Like" the post. Easy enough. I wrote a little something too about how I was a poor nursing student about to graduate and don't have a single pair of scrubs to start me off. I of course never thought I would win and by the next day had already forgotten about it...until I saw that they had posted the names of the winners and I was one of them! I could not believe it and had to read the post many times till it really sunk in. Still skeptical I emailed them my size and address. I did not go around telling people about it for fear it was not legit, but about a week later I got a package with a brand new pair of Koi scrubs! The top is from their new line and normally runs about $31 and the pants (which never go on sale) run about $30. They also sent me some other Koi nicknack's: a cute key topper, a bag, etc.... I'm way excited and have already bought a ton of tops (after I found out last seasons tops are 50% cheaper) and three more pairs of pants. So now I have a whole wardrobe and I'm ready to work in style!

Nursing Philosophy Paper: Med/Surg III

Even though the term “nurse” has not always been around, the concept of a nurse has been around since the beginning of time. But how can one make this argument without truly knowing what it means to be a nurse? While doctors, medicine men, witch doctors, etc…may try to treat an illness, nurses care for people. To them the sick are not just an object to be studied, poked and prodded, to be cast off if no cure can be found. To nurses the ill are people who need love, support, and have rights. A nurse is a true patients’ advocate. It is my personal philosophy that when I take on the role of a nurse I am pledging to care for people; healthy or sick, rich or poor, young or old. To me, this is one of the noblest of callings. In an effort to convert readers to my philosophy I will expand by answering the following questions; “What is the purpose of the nursing profession? Who are the participants in nursing and nursing practice? What do you believe about the service component of the nursing profession and how will this impact your choice of employment?” And finally, “How will societies as a whole benefit from your contribution to the nursing profession?”
What is the purpose of the nursing profession?
The purpose of the nursing profession, I believe, was very well summed up by Virginia Henderson, RN, when she stated: “The unique function of the nurse is to assist the individual, sick or well, in the performance of those activities contributing to health or its recovery (or to peaceful death) that he would perform unaided if he had the necessary strength, will or knowledge. And to do this in such a way as to help him gain independence as rapidly as possible” (Whitehead, p240). A nurse’s roll is to look at the whole picture. To not just care for a patient with an illness, but to anticipate potential problems that can come from having a certain condition and taking measures to minimize or prevent them all together. This I believe is true patient care.
Who are the participants in nursing and nursing practice?
If a nurse is going to be effective in their roll I believe it is important to know who the participants in the nursing and nursing practice are. I have always been a fan of the saying, there is no “I” in “team.” Nurses are a part of a team effort to care for patients. There are head nurses, shift nurses, staff nurses, LPN/LVN, and CNAs who all work together to see that patients are cared for in a timely and effective manner. It is, however, sometimes overlooked that the patients’ themselves are part of the actual nursing process. A nurse can care for and teach a patient till they are blue in the face, but if the patient at some point is not willing to accept responsibly in their own care then it will all have been in vain. One of Watson’s 10 Carative Factors is “Promotion of transpersonal teaching-learning” and gives the example: “This carative factor separates care from cure. You educate the patient appropriately while the patient assumes responsibility for learning” (Potter & Perry, p483). A person will not always be a patient in your care, but if you care/teach for them well and they take responsibility, then the torch is passed and your “care” will stay with them in their own actions.
What do you believe about the service component of the nursing profession and how will this impact your choice of employment?
My favorite thing about nursing is the fact that there is a huge service component and it is this that has helped me on my path of seeking employment where I might have the most opportunities to serve. Nursing was something that I had considered for years, but was never ready to commit to; however, I have always known that I wanted to help people. I obtained a degree in Health Science with an emphasis in Health Promotion and Lifetime Wellness and was trained to teach health promotion in the community setting. Excited to be a part of the health field I was devastated when I learned that I was competing with nurses for these jobs. My path eventually lead me to Hawaii where I was fortunate to find a job as the Education Programs Coordinator for the National Kidney Foundation of Hawaii (NKFH). I did not know much about kidneys at the time, but I have two of them so I was excited to learn and educate others. I was able to set up educational classes all over the Hawaiian Islands, but because I was not a nurse or a renal dietitian I was not allowed to teach the classes myself. Over time I gained knowledge of what it was like to be a person with chronic kidney disease (CKD) or end state renal disease (ESRD). When I thought about renal failure and being on dialysis I could not help but compare it to the failure of other organs. If your heart or liver fails before you can have a transplant you die. ESRD is unique in this since that if you can’t find a donor right away you can go on dialysis. Some people might think this is a miserable outcome, but think about when people who are dying experience the feeling “if only I could have just a little more time.” Dialysis is a little or a lot more time and I believe there is true beauty in that.
You might be wondering where the service comes in to play; the service is providing education to the people facing the prospect of dialysis. It is not uncommon for people with chronic disease to deal with some form of depression. I love the idea of helping people learn that life can still be fulfilling even when living with a chronic disease and being “tied” to a dialysis machine. For example; it was not until I worked for the NKFH that I learned there was a cruise line called Dialysis at Sea. The ship is staffed with nephrologists, renal dietitians, dialysis nurses and technicians. This is just one way that people with ESRD can feel “normal” again. Unfortunately, this cruise and other services are not widely advertised. I want to provide service to people with CKD and ESRD by proving hope in the form of education and recourses. The idea of helping to improve a persons’ quality of life through service is very exciting to me.
How will societies as a whole benefit from your contribution to the nursing profession?
I am only 30 years of age, but in my life I have seen and had a variety of experiences. Because I come from a military family I have lived in and visited many different places and have experienced many different cultures. I love learning about other customs and beliefs and even though I don’t practice them or maybe even disagree with them, I still respect them. I think that this is a characteristic that will benefit the different societies I may find myself working in. No one wants to learn from a nurse they fill does not truly care for them or their culture. Not everyone has the ability or desire to be culturally sensitive but I do. I believe this ability will make me a more effective nurse and let me have a bigger impact on the different societies of the world.
I believe it is always beneficial to take the time to decide what one’s personal philosophy is. If you do not do this on occasion how will you truly know what you stand for? I know what the nursing profession means to me, I know that I am a part of a team, I know what I have to offer, and I know why I am doing it. I know that with this knowledge I will be a more effective nurse, team member, teacher, and caregiver. Nursing is where I am meant to be and I mean to make a difference.

(Sorry about the bad formating. It's Bloggers' fault!)

Oh, it's on!

Well, my fourth (and last) semester of nursing school is in full swing! It’s very surreal. It feels like only yesterday that I was at the nursing orientation two weeks before first semester. As I sat there I could not help but think “what the crap am I doing here? I can’t do this!” And now here I am starting IVs like an old pro, giving meds without a nurse over my shoulder, picking out a preceptorship, and planning our pinning ceremony with my classmates. I am so excited to be almost done and at the same time scared out of my mind. It will be a long time after I get my first nursing job that I will really feel comfortable, but I am looking forward to it.

For those of you who do not know much about nursing preceptorships I will explain. Most of the time it is referring to a 2 to 3 month period of working with a seasoned nurse at the beginning of your first job (a probation period). Here we have preceptor ships during school as well. Our finals will be mid October and then we will have about 96 hours one on one with a nurse (hopefully in the unit of our choice). My teacher will not know for sure what slots will be available to us till October. So I got on her “wish list” to be assigned to the ER. I have never really considered the ER before, but after spending this past Friday there during a 12 hour clinical, I have had a bit of a revelation. The ER would be a great place to get some more practical experience other than just giving meds (most of the time we are on the Med/Surg floor and that is all you really do…that and bed baths). Most people show up there with IVs, Foley’s, etc… already in place…boring! So if all goes well I will get in the ER and if after 96 hours I decide it’s not for me, fine. At least I will know for sure and I would have gotten some great technical skills.

I am very excited for the future and looking forward to seeing where my nursing career will take me!

(the chart above is of the 12 cranial nerves. I have to know then by number, name, and function for my next test. yuk!)

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