Learning, learning, learning!

It is hard for me to describe how much I've learned in the past year. Nursing school -- especially an accelerated program like mine -- is like boot camp. 

I'm now devoted the 6 Rights of Medication (right patient, right med, right route, right dose, right time, right documentation). 

I feel really comfortable taking vitals -- more at ease every time I do it. I'm still slow and totally awkward at using different machines (you turn it on first? or after you put the oximeter on their finger?). I'm more confident with patients -- I can watch them breathe, feel their pulses and listen to their lung/heart/belly sounds without feeling rushed.

I'm a lot more comfortable with being safe with needles. As a diabetic I'm at a total disadvantage when it comes to being super safe -- I'm just not very scared of sticking myself. I actually need to practice being steadier when I'm drawing up meds. 

I'm still excited to help -- so that means I spend a fair amount of time dashing around for cups of ice, blankets or extra socks. But I love helping patients and making their days in the hospital a little better. I try to spend time with patients -- talking, comforting and listening.

I'm loving the 12-hour shifts, the organizing, the unpredictability, the new adventures that pop up along the way (today I helped a doctor find supplies in exchange for watching him remove a chest tube). I feel open for anything -- and open for more learning. Nursing is incredibly cool and incredibly strange. 

Today I made patient cry (she was an easy crier). I also got my first hug from a patient. Awesome.