By the skin of my teeth.....

I hate role playing. For our skills lab, we have to practice with plastic people. We have to treat, and interact with, the plastic people just as we would a real, live patient. That means role playing.

"Hello, sir. Could you please tell me your name and date of birth?" (Check bracelet)

"Thank you, Mr. Soandso. My name is Wendy, and I am here to change your IV bag. This should only take a few minutes. Do you have any allergies to any medication, solutions, tape or latex?"

When I do this, I tend to mumble. Why? Because I feel like an idiot talking to an inanimate object.

I had completed my procedure, my drip rate was perfect, and I was waiting for the instructor to check me off. So Ms. Miller (who has a reputation for being a beast of a teacher, tho' I like her), sits herself down at the end of my bed, and says, "Let me hear your overriders."

Hamana, hamana, hamana......

"Hello, could you please tell me your name and date of birth?" (check armband)

"Thank you Mr. Soandso. My name is Wendy, and I am here to chankge your IV bag. This should only take a few minutes."

Notice something missing? And she is trying to clue me in, as subtly as she can. I go through this three times, and then finally she says, "Allergies." AAAAAGGGGHHH!!!!!!!

Bonehead, bonehead, bonehead!!!!!

Fortunately, she had heard me say it the first time, but when put on the spot, I totally blanked. I passed, because my procedure was spot-on. You can be sure, that I will never forget about allergies each and every time, ever, ever again.

Oh, we finally got our stinkin' badges, and were allowed to work with patients. We got split in to groups of three, and were each given a total care patient. We were to give our patient a bath. The fire alarm had gone off in the hospital, and the air conditioner had shut down. Our patient was on contact isolation so we had to have plastic gowns and gloves. It was so hot. We bathed the patient, and would each do an area, and then switch around. One would wash, one would dry, one would lotion. I looked at us, and I said we looked like a joke. "How many nursing students does it take to bathe a patient?" However, the patient was relieved to be cooler and clean. The clinical instructor told me I need to not be afraid of breaking the patients, and to get in there and move them around. My number one fear is causing the patients harm or pain. Though, I realize that sometimes pain is a necessary part of treatment.

Yesterday, movies. Mr. & Mrs. Smith. It was good, however, the plot was completely and totally predictable.

Tonight, study, study, study. First test in lecture on Wednesday.

W. :)