Clinicals = Excellent

My first day of clinicals was terrific!

I could hardly sleep the night before. I kept waking up thinking I might be forgetting something or sleeping past my alarm.

I finally stopped pretending to rest at about 4:30 a.m. I got dressed with longjohns under my scrubs, combed my hair into ponytail, packed my white shoes in my backpack along with my lunch, and felt ready to go.

I headed out the door, then realized it was raining. So I ran back upstairs for a plastic bag to put my shoes in, just in case.

I headed out again, got halfway down the block and realized I left my cell phone and my continuous glucose monitor on my beside table. I ran back for that stuff, and a hat, while I was at it.

I dashed (literally running more than halfway there) to the bus stop, hopped on and got to the hospital early enough to grab a coffee before things got underway.

The morning went quickly. A classmate and I shared a patient, who was very nice. I got an ID badge. I got to know my clinical instructor -- a neurosurgery advanced practice nurse. I ate lunch in the cafeteria. I learned the routine and the schedule, a little bit.

I've got an online hospital orientation, IV lab, classes aplenty, community health clinicals, a 9-page critical thinking worksheet to fill out, and some readings to pick up, but I've already knocked on my first patient door, introduced myself to my first patient, taken my first real set of vitals, taken my first listen to a stranger's lungs and heart, and did a good job at it. And that's big.