New to nursing

First week of my first big girl job- complete. What a week. From orientation to my first night shift, moving to Baltimore and taking this new job was the best thing I could've done for myself! Two night shifts complete, several new people at work, friendly faces and new environments. So much has been going on! 

I had been so anxious about night shift, it's really not as bad as they say! But it might be. Here are my notes/tips to self so far...

1. Try to nap for a little while before your night shift, any length of sleep will do.

2. This might involve waking up early and exhausting yourself, so you can sleep, like I did. 

3. Coffee at 1 AM. Coffee and I are now friends.

4. Pack an exciting dinner/midnight snack... It'll keep you excited until it's gone.

5. Comfortable shoes make the shift twenty times better. I also recommend knee high TEDs.

6. Shower upon getting home, this will make you feel clean and I think it makes me sleep better.

7. Sleep until you want, but if you're converting back to normal people hours.. Wake yourself up at about 2pm.

8. Night shift nurses seem to have more time in their hands, be an extraordinary nurse and already have things completed for day shift nurses.

I don't have too many tips yet, but hopefully I'll master this thing.

Happy Nurse's Day/Week!

May 6th-12th is commonly known as Nurse's Week. Today, being National Nurse's Day, I was excited to spend my morning on the ICU at internship. Bagels, fruits, pizzas and wings were ordered for the nurses on the unit; thank yous were shared and congratulations/good luck wishes were spread among the hospital. Doctors were aware of the day and so were some patients. There were bulletins all over the lounge, advertising events going on during the week. 

It's so great to feel appreciated and I am thankful that I am going into such a gracious and honored profession. I also had the honor of having my first disimpaction today... That should just get my my RN license right away. Scarred for life, but I will see that man progress into good health on Thursday! Among all of the things that I have seen at internship, I have participated in procedures that I am so thankful for. ICUs are crazy! Lines everywhere, insertion sites all over, beepers and alerts off the hook. I have learned SO much. A-lines, CVP, MAP, pneumonia right & left, thoracenteses, trauma, CAT codes, isolation to the extreme and withdrawal symptoms everywhere. Happy Nurse's Day! T- 2 months until my RN licensure (HOPEFULLY!)

almostRN

"The holidays bring so much conversation and predictions about the future, specifically at family parties and holiday events. Graduation is in 4 months and it's all starting to hit me! Over break, I have been shadowing nurses at A.I. Dupont Children's Hospital and LOVING IT. I am so happy I got this opportunity! Today, I shadowed the nicest nurse at the PICU, spent a day at the NICU and also got PACU/Pre-Op and OR experience last week. I am so ready to become a nurse and I now know that my niche is pediatrics. It has such a positive and happier atmosphere and environment. The NICU would be cool and I find all of that information/disorders interesting but I like a patient who can talk to me. Pediatrics is so inspiring, rewarding and interesting.  PICU was intense; not sure if I can handle near-drownings, car accidents and serious trauma. I got to see 2 surgeries in the OR; ACL repair and hernia repair. The ACL repair was 4 HOURS LONG! Wasn't a fan.

Although I'm not sure what department of nursing I want to start off in, I really hope it's in a children's hospital. I've also talked with so many nurses about travel nursing and this seems so cool. The salary is awesome especially if I want to explore other areas to live! California?! Hawaii?! Florida?! I'm there. Meanwhile, we're supposed to get snow tonight and tomorrow.

I am so excited for the next few months; so much to look forward to. Headed back to school, my last semester of nursing school, the NCLEX and then finally getting a job! Helloooooooo real world. I want to get some experience down in a hospital for a few years, then maybe pursue travel nursing, maybe go back to school for my Master's and settle down with a 9-4 job with no holidays or weekends. However, school nursing has my heart. We'll see. 

Meanwhile, we have a medication exam on the second day of class so nursing school has not failed to keep me busy, even on breaks. So that's that. Definitely gonna be quite a journey of a year.  xo