Jennifer Vitti

Have you guys ever had a nurse that doesn’t like you? I had one of those recently and it was for a stupid reason–just cuz I couldn’t pass meds yet, so she didn’t feel like I was helpful to her (sorry I talked with your patient, did almost a complete head to toe assessment, did all the patient’s ADLs and hygienic care, monitored the I&Os, and took the patient’s vital signs–you’re right I wasn’t any help at all). It’s REALLY bothering me and I can’t seem to get it out of my head and I wanted some advice/comfort from my fellow/past nursing students. I realize the nurse could have been having a bad day, I was probably in her way sometimes, and yes passing meds would take a load off her shoulders, but seriously, and this is gonna sound silly and I’m kinda joking, kinda not…but EVERYONE LOVES ME. I’m cute, I’m upbeat, and I smile when people talk to me. People constantly say that I make them smile just because of how I present myself–including past nurses I’ve worked with since school started. So it is really bothering me that this nurse found me to be a pest apparently. I tried to stay out of her way since it was clear from moment 1 that she didn’t want a student “Hi I’m Jen I’ll be with the Patient in Room XXX.” “Can you pass meds yet?” “No…sorry not for a few more weeks.” “Ha well I guess you’re going to be no help to me”. I think it’s also bothering me that I’m so bothered by it because it obviously isn’t my fault I can’t pass meds yet–so I’m in this vicious circle and I think I just really need to talk to someone who understands or has been in that situation (and yes I realize I should suck it up not everyone is always gonna love me =p haha).

*sigh* not to mention that I’m probably be overly sensitive because I’m tired too. I had a huge Professional Nursing exam yesterday (on nutrition, urinary and fecal elimination, FLUIDS  + ELECTROLYTES, pain, medications, and diagnostic testing), which I think went well and I will let you guys know when I receive my grade. Also big shout out and thanks to Nurse Teeny (check out her blog in the blogs I love to read section on the left hand column of my page) for giving me some good tips for Fluids & Electrolytes. I can’t tell you how many times I told myself “HypERtonic fluids Enter the vessels and hypOtonic fluids go Out of the vessels” Thank you Nurse Teeny!!!

Yay for a weekend (even if it is filled with more studying/homework…Clinical paper due Sunday, math/med exam on Monday, Oral Med Proficiency testing on Tuesday, and Health Assessment Quiz on Wednesday…WOO)

~love always~

Jen

Haha that’s what my clinical instructor said to me today during clinical when I went up to her (after I had been up to her 3x prior) and said “Sorry, I feel stupid I can’t figure out how to hook up my patient’s oxygen to the portable oxygen tank so we can walk around”. And she responded that I’m supposed to feel stupid and it’s okay. I’m new and that’s what she’s there for Haha I love my clinical instructor–she makes me feel better about everything and is an amazing instructor!! I’ve learned so much from her!

Anyway things are good! Clinical has been going very smoothly… every clinical I get more and more nervous actually because I’m waiting for the day that I get a patient who hates me or  a day where everything goes wrong or I really screw up…because sooner or later it’s going to happen. Not every patient is going to be as perfect as my last couple have been. However, I am glad that so far it has not been too difficult. I hung an IV bag today in clinical which was my new skill for the day (and apparently hooking up oxygen as well hehe). The skills that we’re doing now in clinical are: vital signs, monitoring I & O, ADLs, hygienic care, and a handful of assessments (right now we can do cardio, respiratory, abdomen, skin, eyes, ears, nose, and throat…next week we’ll add on peripheral vascular). In 2-3 weeks we’re going to start doing med passes! That’s the big one. It’ll really help out the nurses on the floor and it will keep us very busy too.

My Health Assessment quiz grade did get bumped up to a 90% YAY so now I have all A’s on tests/assignments and overall. Which makes me very happy of course.

I passed my sterile technique proficiency test! And I had a quiz on Tuesday, which I’m still waiting for the grade…I think I did alright.

Next week I have Exam 2 for Professional Nursing (which includes A LOT of info even though it’s only been 2.5 weeks since the last exam) and a Process Recording paper due for Clinical. Then can I just tell you it’s crunch time again. The following week (11/1-11/7) I have my 2nd Math Assessment (which I have to pass with a 90 or above in order to move on in the course and to be able to pass meds–although you can retake it if need be), my Oral Med Proficiency Test, and my 2nd Health Assessment quiz. The week after that (11/8-11/14) I have my 2nd Clinical Pharmacology exam, Lab Quiz 3, Oral Med Testing, Full H + PE paper, and a Functional Health Assessment paper.  Then Injection Proficiency testing and Exam 3 for Professional Nursing the week after (11/15-11/21). Finally followed by a Thanksgiving break before it’s crunch time again before finals.

I have learned so much so far and it’s moving so fast. I can’t believe that in 15 months I will be taking the NCLEX-RN exam. Crazzzyyyyy. Then straight on to my MSN + PNP (despite what a lot of people are advising I really want to go straight through, full time, get it done and do what I want to do. I love bedside nursing so far, but my heart is in pediatric primary care (at least from what I can tell right now–I obviously don’t have too much experience). A lot of the students are saying they’re taking a break in between the BSN and the MSN and working as an RN, so that they’ll get experience and be more respected and I should do the same, but I disagree–at least in my situation. A lot of the people don’t want to go into primary care, so then yes I would say maybe taking time off and working as an RN would be good (if you can find a job of course–MA is not so nice to new grads right now) but primary care is kinda a different ball game and the direct-entry program definitely prepares you…I’ve seen it. So right now that is still my plan! I just want my classmates to support me in my plans too. Just because they’re different than theirs doesn’t make them wrong. So here’s to Jennifer Vitti MSN Class of 2012! not 2013, 2014, etc.

Back to homework… always homework, but it’s worth it

~love always~

Jen

p.s. what is up with MA or New England and the lady bug infestation?! Craziness

I am so happy with life right now.

The stretch of non-stop exams has stopped momentarily and for the rest of the semster they are more spread out. I got the rest of my grades–adding on to the others

Math/Med Quiz 100%

Professional Nursing Exam 98% <–HUGE EXAM (20 chapters) AND I ONLY GOT ONE WRONG!!

And my one 85% in Health Assessment, which is still an okay grade, might actually get bumped up to 90% because one of the questions they might end up accepting two answers!!

I just feel so amazing that I’m actually in nursing school finally after so long getting to do what I’ve been wanting to do and I’m doing well! I also have made friends in school and have a good relationship with my instructors.

Clinical has been going well too. We finally had our own patient that we were responsible for the other day. We had partners for the day, but I was happy with that. The girl I was partnered up with I get along with very well and she and I have similar bubbly personalities, so we go well together too from a patient’s perspective. We did vitals, cardio, respiratory, and abdomen assessment, made sure he had all his meals, measured intake and output, helped him clean his dentures, gave any messages to the nurse, and just kept him company and talked with him. We also got to see a PICC line put in which was a great opportunity and really interesting. It was an amazing day and we had a great rapport with the patient and I left there feeling like I MAKE A DIFFERENCE. THIS IS WHY I’M HERE THIS WHY I’M DOING WHAT I’M DOING! Ah I just feel so good! And I’m sure there will be bad exams, bad grades, bad days where the patient and I don’t get along, but right now I’m just basking in the love I have for this profession and my life right now. Once my boyfriend graduates from college and moves back home I might just explode from happiness

AND I have a long weekend this weekend. And I plan on spending it doing work lmao, but in a good way! I’m a very organized person…a bit OCD for sure… and I’ve basically been behind since Day 1 because of all the assignments that were expected to be done for the first day of classes. I have been getting closer and closer every week, but this weekend I will officially catch up in all my reading, my leisure reading (I read 1 chapter a day of a pleasure book to keep me sane), my Italian studying (keeping up with my language skills–takes only 5-15 minutes a day), and my tv shows. I also want to get back on my regular running schedule since I’d like to lose 8 pounds by Thanksgiving–I’ve lost some already I’m almost positive, but I have no idea how much since we don’t have a scale in my house–oh well. And once I get caught up I’ll have more time for blogging! *happy dance*

Off to read about Fluids + Electrolytes–I heard that’s a hard section, so wish me luck–any tips?!

Enjoy your weekends everyone! Let me know how your school is going!

~love always~

Jen

I know I promised I would try to do an entry with EVERYTHING that has been going on, but it’s going to have to be put off for a few more days. I have a Med/Math test tomorrow, lab hw due Tuesday, a HUGE professional nursing exam Wednesday, an H + PE paper due Wednesday, and then clinical again on Thursday. BUT THERE IS LIGHT ON THE HORIZON (for real for real). I have a long weekend a FIVE DAY weekend to be exact. So I plan to get caught up 100% and to update you guys. You should get an entry either Friday PM or sometime Saturday. Until then…wish me luck and good luck to each of you who are in similar situations!

Grades have been posted however, which I wanted to share so far…

Lab Quiz: 95%

Pharmacology Exam: 96% <–worth 25% of my grade!!! really pumped about that one

Lab Check-off 1: PASS

Health Assessment Quiz: 85%

All good passing grades Hopefully I can keep this up!

~love always~

Jen