Jennifer Vitti

Hello hello!

Took my exam–it was tough. It wasn’t my best grade, but I passed (86!) and at this point that seems to be really all I care about haha. I still have one quiz, one exam, a paper, and a final in acute care to go and one exam, one paper, and a final in psych to go as well. I also had yet another REALLY tough week at clinical with another dying patient and it included some major ethical issues that I won’t discuss due to HIPAA, but it was pretty dicey at times. I think I handled it well though, so just another experiences to throw under my belt. Glad for some time off this week. Only about 5 weeks left though! This week has been nice because since I attend a Catholic school we get a lot of days off for Easter (Thursday-Monday). So I am spending it working and catching up on homework. I actually have been very productive, which feels great

Found out this week about the preceptorship we are doing in the fall. I’m very excited about that. We do 160 hours with one RN at one of the local hospitals. We have the “choice” (they’ll try to honor our choices, but no guarantees) of the facility and the department (except no peds–kinda bummed about that, but that will probably be the last semester that I won’t get to work in the specialty that I want. Still excited and plan to make the most of it!) I’m thinking of doing the hospital that I’m at currently. It’s one of the closest hospitals to my home and I’ve really enjoyed the experiences I’ve had there this semester. As far as department I think my first choice is going to be the PACU. I got to observe there for only about 30-45 minutes one day during clinical when I followed a patient there after I observed a surgery and I really liked it. It satisfies my OCD nature because it’s very organized and it will help to strengthen my assessment skills and I also figure I will get to see SOME pediatric patients since most people who come out of surgery go to the PACU no matter the age (kind of my way of cheating the system, except not really). My second choice will be another acute care/med-surg floor because I will get to have a variety of experiences there. Other options include rehab, ICU/CCU, or ED. I’m not really an adrenaline junky haha so the last two kind of freak of me out, but I’m also sort of intrigued, so you never know!

This weekend I’m updating my resume and applying for CNA/MA jobs in local hospitals and dr’s offices. There are a few I have my heart set on, but I’ve heard it’s tough out there so don’t get my hopes up Some people haven’t had any trouble with CNA/MA positions though it’s mostly just the RN ones that people are spending a long time before they even hear back let alone get offered, but still scary. WISH ME LUCK!!!

~love always~

Jen

Haha I just can’t seem to win! This semester is killing me. So far I’m doing okay grade-wise, but I never feel like I’m doing okay. And I’m constantly doing work…non. stop. I thought last semester was bad…GEEZ! Can I go back to that?! I’m just emotionally and physically EXHAUSTED. I keep telling myself that after this semester it gets easier (at least that’s what everyone says…and I would have to say I don’t know how it could get any more difficult!) Just get through this semester. But with 6 weeks left and still over 50% of my grade out for gamble it’s hard to see the light at the end of the tunnel.

Sorry for the vent. I try to stay positive, but sometimes nursing school knows right where to kick you! And with a huge test on Tuesday… I’m feeling the burn.

Short post. Nothing too new to report anyway! Looking forward to Easter in a few weeks

~love always~

Jen

So I’m only half way done with this semester, but I’M SO EXCITED for the summer schedule that I just can’t contain myself. Granted, I also have to PASS this semester, which so far I’m doing fine, but only like 23% of our grade or something ridiculous like that is in…so technically it’s still up in the air. However, I did just take a psych exam (grades not in yet, but it wasn’t difficult) and Beck would tell me that it’s all about positive thinking That being said…

This summer I’m taking two classes: Pediatrics and Family Health/Maternity… needless to say I’M PUMPED! Pediatrics is what I want to do, so I’ve been waiting for this class a long time. My patients so far have been great, but my passion is for taking care of the kiddos! Basically the in-class portion for both classes will be 12 weeks simultaneously. Peds on Monday from 10-1 and Maternity on Tuesday from 10-1. During these 12 weeks we will do 6 weeks of Peds and 6 weeks of maternity (I’m not sure which half of the summer I’ll be doing which yet). Our clinicals will be on Thursdays from 7 AM-7 PM! YIKES! I’ve never done a 12 hour shift before, but I’m very excited about it. Then during the first half of the summer on one of our days off (either Wed or Fri) there will be 3 days of a school health clinical (from 8 am – 2 PM ish) which will be really fun. And then one extra 12 hour day anytime during the summer on either a Wed or a Fri I get to go to a childbirth class.

If you can’t tell I’m really excited! If I can just survive Med-Surg! I’m learning a lot, but it’s really really intense and demanding.

On top of my class schedule I am also planning on applying for a CNA/PCT (whatever you want to call it) job at a local hospital that I’ve done a clinical at, except on a different floor (a pediatric one). It would part-time probably more of an afternoon/evening shift (since those are the ones that are needed). These days it seems like people are only hiring RNs who have already worked at the hospital as a CNA. So I’m hoping this is my in. According to the description I seem pretty qualified. I’ve had two full semesters of med-surg experience (plus psych clinical experience), which is preferred. I have done two clinicals at this hospital, so I know their documentation/computer system and protocols. And I have experience working with pediatrics. The only thing not going is that I technically haven’t done my pediatric rotation yet, but that was not even required or preferred, so hopefully it won’t hurt me. Then when I get my RN in January I will hopefully be able to be hired on the floor at least be more qualified somewhere else since I have this extra experience. Then while I get my master’s and my NP license I will be more experienced since working as an RN and more respected. This is my master plan… hopefully it all goes as planned (haha rarely does it). But as usual I’ll keep you all updated!

~love always~

Jen

p.s. 1/2 a week in and I already miss spring break!

Hey all,

I know it’s been a few weeks…sorry! Here’s the update: stress level finally went down! YAY! I finally had some good positive weeks at clinical that I was emotionally ready for. Not to say that I always want or think it should be easy, but when those hard days/weeks do come around I’m not going to pretend that it’s not going to affect me either. They will and I’ll be internally sad about it (while still being able to do my job) and in a few days I’ll pick myself up again and be a stronger person because I’ve had those experiences. I think most people would agree with that.

I also did VERY well on that exam I was so unsure about. That definitely gave me a little extra boost of confidence. Then I didn’t do so well on the next quiz (worst grade in nursing school so far), but because I have the buffer from my previous exam, the quiz wasn’t worth too much, and it wasn’t the worst grade in the world (something I can pick myself back up from easily) I’m not too worried about it. Not to make excuses…but a lot of the class did poorly because it was really close to the stressful exam since we had a snow day that messed up our schedule and crammed everything together. Although even the people who did feel prepared said the quiz was very tricky and somewhat unfair. So I don’t know what is up with it, but hopefully the rest of the semester is more like my previous exam grade (I’d be so happy haha). So even though I’m not too worried about the quiz grade it did kick my butt back into gear. I had been really slacking. Not on purpose, literally I would just sit in front of my books for long periods of time and not be able to get through more than a paragraph or two. It wasn’t like I was procrastinating and doing other things, I just couldn’t get through the material. However with that swift little kick in the behind and the addition of sun this week (and it’s Spring Break week–more on that in a sec) I have finally got my motivation back and it feels great!

This week I am up at my boyfriend’s in NY (he’s finishing up his undergrad degree). It has been just what I needed. I feel like I can finally breathe again having a little break from school. And the week has been gorgeous! It’s so nice to feel that spring is finally on its way!

That’s all for now. Hopefully with the increased motivation I’ll also be able to go back to my regular blogging. We’ll see…I feel like I always say that, but toward the middle/end of the semester my blogging does seem to die down whether I want it to or not. Sigh…you know how it is. But I’ll try as always!

Off to enjoy the rest of my spring break! Hope everyone enjoys theirs as well!

~love always~

Jen