As always- It's been a while. I feel like I haven't had a spare second to do anything, much less blog in the last 2 months. I'm still in a state of shock that it is already November. Considering weather wise we skipped from summer to winter and now are getting a small taste of fall, I don't feel so bad that I've lost track of time.. September slipped by in a series of birthday celebrations and tests. October strolled through with lots of baseball and a trip home to go to Game 3 of the World Series. My roommate also got engaged at the end of October-- a long time coming and a really exciting night. I feel blessed to have gotten to be a part of the sneaky plan to surprise her. Most people joke that I'm an awful liar (which usually isn't a bad thing)- but I had to twist a few white lies to keep the secret.. well, secret. :)
On to what I'm really wanting to blog about..
I've learned something about myself this semester that really surprised me. One of my main classes this semester is Concepts of Acute Care. We have lecture for this class once a week for 3 hours and then two clinical days from 0630-1430. Although there are not enough spots for us to do clinical in the ICU every week, I have gotten the privilege of being there for 2 weeks (hopefully more!) I never really considered the ICU because I always have said I wanted to work with children.. but what type of children? I've done many hours of volunteer work with children that have cancer, and this semester I was given opportunities to work with kids as a school nurse, on a hospital floor, in a doctors office and in a clinic. So when I stepped into the ICU as a student nurse a few weeks ago, I wondered how it differed from a pediatrics ICU floor? All I knew is that I learned more and was exposed to more during that 8 hour shift that I had been all semester. I was energized, excited and wanting to learn and do more. This really inspired me. Especially since Nursing School can really be a drag sometimes.. We learn so much in such a short amount of time, that sometimes I feel bogged down and catch myself not loving and appreciating every second of it like I did in the beginning. I know I shouldn't feel like this and being in the ICU reminded me why I love nursing and why I really want to be a nurse; patient care- Quality care. All I can say is that I'm thankful! I'm thankful for where I am in school, where I am in life, the education I am getting and the ways I will be able to use that education when I graduate in less than 7 months-- Can you believe it? I always thought I had this great plan for myself, but He has a better one. Nursing school has taught me that and a lot about myself and faith.
So here we are in almost the second week of November. It hasn't really hit me yet that I'll be done with tests and lecture by the time I pack up to head home for Thanksgiving. When we come back all we have are a few clinicals, papers to turn in and then finals. So thankful for just a few more weeks of madness and then a whole month filled with family, friends, holidays, Christmas music/movies, food, relaxation and SKIING! So instead of a video this time, here's a few pictures since the last time I updated. Enjoy :)
