Nine months ago today, on Friday, February 13th, I started thinking about this nursing school thing. Today, I am nearly finished my first semester. Do I ever question my decision? Every day. Do I wish I hadn't decided to do this? Nope. Yesterday, I gave my first IM injection. Some poor man agreed to let students practice on him. I gave him a flu vaccine in one arm. Another student gave him the pneumococcus vaccine in the other arm. Yet another student did his PPD. Next week, I'll give some more injections. I'll get better at this. Thank you, Mr. D. for allowing us to practice. Sorry if it hurt. Standardized test on Monday. This is more stressful than giving a shot.

Almost through the first semester

Well, it's been an interesting 10 weeks. Hard to believe it's already been that long. Two courses are already over - Basic Physical Assessment and Nursing Perspectives. Managed to pull As in both courses. Now the real challenge begins - my first clinical rotation.

We started on Wednesday this week at a nursing home. There are 8 of us in the clinical group. Our instructor is awesome...so laid back and supportive. The nursing home really seems pretty nice, compared with some I've seen (and smelled). The staff are friendly and helpful. My first patient was an 80-year-old man with a multitude of problems, including a C. diff infection. Yuk. But I'm actually looking forward to going back next week and seeing if I can't be more organized and confident. There is so much paperwork...feel like I'm drowning in it...but it's all for the good and to help us organize and prioritize. I've got some sore muscles from turning my patient during the bath and bed change. He was totally unable to help. Need to get myself in better shape!

My young classmates are awesome. So little experience of the world, yet so focused and eager to learn and help their fellow human beings. As always, I'm inspired by young people. They are wonderful.

This is such a challenge and so rewarding; so glad I am able to do it.

Thoughts on 9/11

Of course, I remember, as do we all, where I was and what I was doing when I heard the news about 9/11. What I had forgotten until now was that it was the events of 9/11 and the aftermath that reinspired me to want to go to nursing school. If there was going to be a disaster, or an anthrax epidemic, or some other horror to be gotten through, I wanted to be one of the ones taking care of other people.

Shortly after 9/11, I applied to the Johns Hopkins school of nursing (where my great-grandmother had been in the first graduating class and where I was working at the time). I was very excited about the possibility, but JHU apparently was not. I was not accepted, and I thought, "well, I guess I just wasn't supposed to do that." I put the idea aside for 7 1/2 years and did other things. Then on February 13 of this year (yes, Friday the 13th), the company where I was employed lost the contract I worked on. My good friend, Marge, who also works there, brought up the possibility of going to nursing school. I thought, "well, maybe I should give it one more shot." And the rest, as they say, is history.

So, the third week of school went pretty well. One stressful day in 3 weeks is a pretty good average. Next week is our first test, and I'm busy studying for that. Working on a presentation that's due the following Monday along with another test, and then finally, a third test the week after that. Then I'll only be a month away from my first clinicals. I've gotten my uniforms all ready and most of my supplies - stethescope, etc. Dale gave me a nice little watch with a white band to wear for work.

I can do this.

Two weeks down

The first week had some very stressful moments, but the second week went pretty well. Learned how to wash our hands and prepare a sterile field. We've already had at least one dropout: one of my project partners...not quite sure why, but apparently she intends to come back next semester. We have our first test in a week. Just one day of lectures this week and the rest seem to be labs. Labs are kinda fun. Have to work on my presentation, due on my birthday. Now that there are only two of us for the presentation, there will be a little more work to do. Mostly took Labor Day weekend off, but did my reading this afternoon and this evening. Now it's time for beddy bye. Nurse Ratchet is tired!

Yesterday was the first day of the rest of my life, and I dare say it is going to be very different from what preceded it. Even with as much time as I have spent in and around hospitals, nursing homes, medical day care centers, and labs, I have already been learning so many new concepts, so much new terminology, I am in information overload.

When I arrived a half-hour early on the first day, there were quite a few other overachievers there already. Our class of 72 students seems like a really good group. We were introduced to the faculty yesterday. They congratulated us on our acceptance into the program. Apparently there were 200 applicants who were not accepted.

Today we had 5 hours of class and ditto for tomorrow. There is so much reading and studying to prepare for class, I don't know how the young women who have children will manage. I've already met one woman with a 3-year-old, one with a 1-year old, and one with a 7- and a 4-year old. I am in awe of them. I can be pretty organized when I put my mind to it, but this will really put my organizational skills to the test.

It promises to be an interesting and challenging 2 years. Stay tuned!

Two weeks and counting

After my first entry a couple of months ago, I kind of forgot how to do the blog thing. Thanks again to Erin for the tutorial. I managed to survive the CPR course. My partner and I sailed through with flying colors. Getting down on the floor and then back up was a challenge, but it was only mildly embarrasing.

$800+ worth of textbooks have been purchased; new BlackBerry Storm is up and running with nursing programs installed; 300+ pages of course syllabi have been printed out and holes punched; notice has been duly given at work; still have to get my uniforms and stethescope. Now we're down to two weeks and counting.

Inspired by Erin

As is often the case, my daughter-in-law has inspired me to "just do it." I've been meaning to blog but never quite got around to it. Now that Erin's Asylum is up and running, I decided to get going too. Actually, I probably won't have that much to say until my school starts at the end of August. Thought I'd chronicle what it was like to be "the world's oldest student nurse." Next weekend is my CPR course, so that should provide some entertainment. (Picture me getting back up off the floor!) I am looking forward to this adventure, admittedly, with a little trepidation.