I'm Rambling Again

Well, we've made it through another holiday season. Christmas was as good as could be expected. I went a little overboard buying for Chloe and Drew, but they had a really good time and it helped take my mind off my dad. I can't make it through a day without crying. It has been the biggest adjustment of my life and I never expected to miss him so much. Mom is keeping a journal where she writes to him and talks about her feelings and what is going on in our lives. It seems to really help.

School is keeping me so busy that I'm not able to dwell on anything too depressing. Next week is our drug check-off, where we have to apply what we've learned about 16 medications, and also demonstrate proper technique for subcutaneous and intramuscular injections, and then the next week is NG and foley cath. insertion. Can't say that I'm too thrilled about either of those, especially inserting a tube into someone's nose and threading it into their stomach. Oh well, I'll get through it just like I do everything else, by being over prepared. And then, as a birthday present I get to wake-up at 5:00am and spend 12 hours at ARMC, but I'm actually looking forward to clinicals, so that I'll be finished with all the skills check-offs.

I'm really beginning to understand why there is such a nursing shortage. It is grueling schedule and only the most dedicated will hang-in there. I've adjusted to all the reading, and mastered (I hope) the testing format and actually made an A last quarter, and I don't really mind getting up early or the long hours, but I hate the skills check-offs; thankfully that is over after the first few weeks of each quarter. I think being in my thirties and being a mother makes me take this a little more seriously than some of the other students. I'm driven to read all the material, understand everything and know what to do in every possible situation, but there are those that remind me of high school with their stupid idle chit chat, talking about their boyfriends and staying out all night at parties. Sometimes I just want to scream, "Grow up this is a life and death career you are preparing for, so please give it the respect, though and consideration that it deserves!!!" I wonder how many of the "older" ones that I went to school with in this program 14 years ago felt that way about me?

Okay, let me make my way through the toy maze that is my living room and go to bed. I bet I'll step on three Lincoln Logs, a Tinker Toy or two, and don't forget those pointy little Light Brite plastic bulb things. What was Santa thinking? And don't even get me started on Moon Sand!!!