Jennifer Vitti

I believe I’ve mentioned about the preceptorship that my school requires for me to do in the fall. It is 160 hours with an RN (who also has to have a BSN). We get to pick the hospital and the department (with some restrictions-since it’s not just a general preceptorship, but it’s for Complex Care kind of as the clinical portion). I have my heart set on the PACU and the more I talk about it the more I want that. There are of course limited spots for the PACU and the hospital that I’d like to be placed. You can, however, request to be put with a specific nurse (as long as she has her BSN and is an RN in one of the departments that fits it’s fair game) at a specific hospital and then the coordinator will basically set that up as best they can.

Well, the other day in clinical one of the PACU nurses came up to the floor and one of my fellow clinical students told me she was also a student at my school (I’m currently at clinical at the hospital I’d like to be placed in for my preceptorship)! My clinical buddies know about my desires for my preceptorship, so they encouraged me to go talk with her. I was hesitant at first only because I didn’t know what to say and I also wasn’t sure of her pull/weight to set me up with a preceptor in the PACU there. My friends told me to never underestimate connections and that was the final shove I needed. My clinical instructor happened to be talking to her at the time (they know each other from working together and going to school together) and I walked over and introduced myself and became part of their conversation. The conversation then did shift toward the preceptorship and my instructor (who also knew what I wanted for the preceptorship) talked about the limited spaces in the PACU and my desire to be at this hospital and in the PACU. Well the RN offerred to be my preceptor in the fall! Even better than I could’ve hoped! So now I just have to let my school know and they will finish setting it up and it’s basically a done deal. I’m thrilled

Now if I could just get a job and finish/pass this semester I will be one happy nursing student!

~love always~

Jen

I hate when I feel like I’m just using the blog to vent. I hate being whiny. I’m having a really tough time this semester though, so that’s what comes out in my posts. Don’t worry-grade-wise I’m not doing as well as last semester, but that was kind of expected, but I’m not in danger of failing or anything like that. I just feel like I can’t get anything right and I can’t make anyone happy not even myself. I think many nursing students go through this, but I’ll just say it…IT SUCKS!  Thank God there is only four and half weeks left in the semester (ugh, but still so many grades to go). I’m really looking forward to pediatrics and maternity this summer-hopefully this will be where I shine. And just summer in general makes me happy.

No good news on the job news front. I’m applying for CNA and MA jobs in my area. It’s still VERY early into my hunt and I’ve only submitted a couple applications, but the first one I sent I was really REALLY hoping to hear something and I haven’t yet (I only submitted it this weekend, so I still have some time before I consider it a dud). I never know though–what’s the rule of thumb? Should I be “pesky” and call? I know it’s supposed to show interest, but at the same time I feel like that’s really annoying and turns people off. My cover letter should be what shows the interest no? I’m still young and although I do have work experience in other fields the jobs have basically been handed to me (exhibit A: currently I work for my mom haha), so this is somewhat new territory for me. I plan to ask my clinical instructor who works there for advice as to what this hospital likes to see in an applicant as far as that goes. *Crossing Fingers*

Heading to my alma mater for the weekend to visit some of my younger college friends who are still there. Hopefully I’ll be able to relax some… not guaranteed though.

~love always~

Jen

p.s. just in case the picture didn’t make sense haha… that is what my life feels like: label one of those cups school, one home, and one just life!

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

I mentioned briefly in my previous post that I had a hard week last week. First I’ll preface it by saying I was housesitting. And I know housesitting sounds like the easiest job in the world…but it’s not. It’s very stressful. I don’t usually get a lot of sleep and I don’t eat very well when I’m there, but it’s good money, I like helping people out, the animals are usually cute and well-behaved, and it usually does add convenience location wise (closer to school and clinical placements). Basically that just added to everything that was going on.

Last Tuesday we were supposed to have our first big Acute Care exam. I was SO STRESSED. It was on so much information (everything from cancer treatment to pulmonary embolisms to reading ECGs–and that does not even BEGIN to cover it). I was putting a lot of pressure on myself basically saying that this exam was going to decide how I was going to do in the class. Remember-it’s nursing school so we need an 80 average to pass. Did I think I was going to get a 50…no. But did I think I might fall somewhere in the 70′s…absolutely. I studied more for this exam than I did for the Professional Nursing FINAL last semester. It was ridiculous. Then Tuesday it’s snowing. The exam was at 5:00 PM and it was 2:30 PM and they hadn’t canceled classes. I am freaking out about the exam as I always do along with the fact that it’s snowing. I live half an hour away from school. Last time it snowed and school wasn’t cancelled it took me almost 2 hours to get there and due to work related reasons I wasn’t going to be able to leave for school until 4:00 PM. So I was very stressed about that as well. 3:00 PM I go and walk 2 dogs. I walk out of the driveway and fall flat on my back and knock the wind out of me (I ended up with a big bruise on my back, but I was fine just FYI). But that was the last straw and I started crying. Then all of a sudden I get a call from one of my friends and she told me that the school decided to close! That just lead to another release of emotions. I was really happy at the time although in retrospect I wish it hadn’t been snowing and I had just gotten to take it. The exam got pushed to the next Tuesday (i.e. yesterday).

Anyway, so there was that fiasco. Then I had Acute Care clinical. My patient had Stage IV metastatic cancer. She was very sweet. She’s supposed to get chemo later but the doctor comes in half way through my shift and says they’re not going to give her the chemo. I’m still in the room and the doctor says I can stay. The doctor then proceeds to tell my patient that the treatments aren’t working and she’s going to die. She should change her status to a DNR from a Full Code and talk with hospice. Now although this patient was elderly…she was a very young elderly. She did not want to give up. She was very much in denial after the doctor said this begging for some other diagnostic tests, which the doctor agreed to a few (which all came back negative later on). Then the doctor leaves and this woman starts crying (understandably!) and I’m just shocked that the doctor spoke to her that way and while I was in the room and without her family there! Maybe I’m just naive, but I didn’t find it an appropriate conversation. So I sit with her and I hold her hand while she cries until she falls asleep. I’m in and out of the room throughout the rest of the day (her family did come later). She’s obviously depressed and doesn’t interact much with me. My heart just breaks for her.

The next day I work with her again. The entire day she is depressed (at this point she got the negative results of all the tests she asked for) and hospice came to talk with her at one point and she barely speaks to me and I try to give her and her family some privacy as they grieve. I’m not taking it personally, but this is just my first interaction with this situation and although I keep myself composed inside I’m very emotional. Later that day I found out my patient from the previous week passed away. Then I felt really down. Just so much death. Someone on the floor found out that my patient from the previous week died and my patient this week was told she was dying and she called me the Angel of Death. She meant it as a joke, but wrong person to say it to and wrong time to say it. I went home that day and bawled. The whole weekend I just felt off my game.

Of course Sunday rolls around and I realize I have this stupid test coming around again. Now I feel less prepared for it than I did the first time. Refreshing and cramming Sunday and Monday I finally felt stressed/nervous, but somewhat competent in the material. Took the test yesterday and I honestly have NO IDEA how I did. Usually I have a pretty good gauge of my grade range (I’m not one of those people who thinks I failed and then I did fine or vice versa), so just to be so unsure after studying that much plus having all that stuff still weighing me down some from last week it just felt awful. I really wanted this week to be awesome.

So today I have started to pick up the pieces. I’m starting to feel a little calmer about my exam (grades come out sometime tomorrow, so we’ll see how I’m feeling then!)  and tomorrow I have clinical, but my instructor is sending me down to interventional radiology to watch a “cool procedure”, which is awesome. It gives me a little break to catch my breath, check my emotions, and still be a part of the nursing world.

Sorry for the rant. It’s been a very emotional week or so. You guys all know how nursing school is (or maybe soon will know)…you definitely have those low low weeks. Hopefully my exam grade will be good, clinical will go smoothly, I’m going on a ski weekend with my family and one of my best friends this weekend, and my boyfriend came home today (haven’t seen him in 2 months). There will be lots to smile about.

~love always~

Jen

p.s. the title of my post is the beginning of a quote. The end of it goes… but Love leaves a memory no one can steal

Hi all,

My life has been emotional/stressful (typical nursing school) rollercoaster the past week. I have a big emotional update for you all, but in all honesty I do not have the energy or the time to do it right now. But I did want to post, so… instead I will give you all the long awaited Timberland review

Just to remind you… Nurse Teeny had a contest a while ago in recognition of her 25,000 visitor count I believe it was and she and the folks at Timberland gave away a free pair of nursing shoes. And I won! I was so excited and so thankful to Nurse Teeny and Timberland. I ordered a pair of Timberland Pro Renovas Professional in black.

I have now worn them for a few weeks to Psych Clinical and sometimes school. One word: LOVE! I agree with Nurse Teeny’s most recent comment (since she also got a pair in blue!) they pretty much kick Dansko’s butt (okay she didn’t say it in those words, but same thing!)

First impression of them: they actually look like normal shoes! Tried them on and immediately knew that I was going to have good things to say about them. They fit my feet perfectly (go with what your regular shoe size is if you decide to get a pair), seemed to offer good support, and were so comfy! They slip right on too, but don’t rub up and down my heels when I walk like some clogs with backs do.

Second impression of them: Wore them to school all day and then to night clinical. I thought this might be dangerous as any shoe might need to be worn in first before wearing them for a full day and I didn’t want to get a wrong impression just because I decided to test them out full strength Day 1. Well I was too eager (and I previously didn’t have any good/appropriate shoes to wear to Psych clinical), so I did it anyway. They passed the test with flying colors! I wore them all day and they did just what I initially felt they would do-gave me great support being on my feet at clinical and being comfy to walk around in as a normal shoe in school.

My one complaint (I want this to be an honest review) is that when I sit they hurt the top of my feet a little. Interesting my Dansko’s also do this. I joke with my nursing school friends that this is what makes them nursing shoes. Like they’re saying “What are you doing sitting down? Nurses don’t sit! You have patients who need you!” Haha but in all seriousness I have no idea why they do this (could it be the leather? is this part of the breaking in process?). I have heard other friends mention this with their shoes too (usually Dansko’s). However on the plus side…even though they hurt my feet when I sit, they hurt LESS than my Dansko’s do when I sit. So overall they are still my favorite nursing shoes that I have tried on to date. If I had money I would 100% buy a pair in white, so I could wear them to my other clinicals too.

I definitely recommend the Timberland Pro Renovas to any nursing student or nurse! Timberland did a fantastic job! And thanks again Nurse Teeny for the opportunity to get a new pair of nursing shoes that I LOVE!!

If anyone has any other specific questions about the shoes feel free to Post a Comment or Ask Me a Question.

~love always~

Jen

p.s. Hopefully look for my other big post sometime Wednesday.

Hi all,

Sorry I have been MIA for a week or so. I like to try to post on both Wednesdays and Sundays, but looks like I missed both of those last week. Anywho… I had my first few quizzes (psych was easy, acute care not so easy). I haven’t gotten my psych grade back yet, I did get my acute care quiz back. I received an 84. Not the worst, but I think I can do better. It was only a quiz though and I’m kind of feeling out Acute Care for the types of questions and how it is going to be different from Professional Nursing. Now that I think I’ve found my bearings I think I can bump it up a notch. For that reason I’m actually looking forward to my first Acute Care exam on the 16th. I want to show it who’s boss

Clinicals have been awesome. I LOVE Acute Care clinical. I am learning so much and getting to spend two days with the same patient is great! I finally got to change a sterile dressing on a real patient too!! I almost got to D/C a Foley, but they decided to do it one hour before I came in!! Maybe next time! I really feel like I’m learning a ton and already am starting to feel more like a nursing student and less like a CNA.

Psych clinical was alright too. We don’t get to do as much, but I did get to sit in on some therapies, which were pretty interesting (they happened to be discussing Birth Order in one of the therapy groups, which just happens to be one of my favorite topics to discuss since my siblings and I are like the poster children for Birth Order) and I was able to do vital signs, so I felt somewhat useful instead of in the way. We’re not on the floor for very long though, but I’ve only been there one day. Hopefully, this week and the coming weeks we’ll be on the floor longer, so that I will have something to write my papers on…

My other exciting news is that I received my Timberland nursing shoes that I won through Nurse Teeny!! I’m going to be wearing them around a lot this week, so I’ll be sure to post a review and let Nurse Teeny and everyone know what I think of them sometime next week!

That’s it for now. I’m exhausted, but I’m feeling pretty good That’s all I can ask for while I’m in nursing school I guess!!

~love always~

Jen

I have  a VERY strong love hate relationship with Acute Care already. I love that I am learning so much already and that I feel like it’s more practical than Professional Nursing, but oh my goodness it is soooo stressful and exhausting and it’s only Week 2. It feels like I’ve been thrown into the deep end of the pool, but I’m only allowed to use my legs!! Haha! First Quiz next week. Hopefully it goes well. I have my first psych quiz on the same day too. Great!

I also have my first REAL clinical tomorrow (no more site orientation). We’ll see how it goes. My instructor is going to email me info on my patient tonight. I’ve been checking my email like a mad woman haha. I’m wicked nervous, but very excited.

Short post today since I have to get back to reading!!

~love always~

Jen