So yesterday was my first day of Peds, the clinical I have been waiting for since I started nursing school was finally here. To say I was nervous was an understatement. I was TERRIFIED, and honestly I have no idea why. Maybe because it was the tiny human population? Maybe because it was VANDERBILT, maybe because I didn't get enough sleep the day/night before. Maybe because my best friend was no longer with me in class? Honestly, I don't know why I was so skittish but seriously I felt like I could cry at least 3 times that day. Ok, here's a recap of how it went & why it was so terrible & wonderful at the same time.
Worked 7p-7a Saturday night. Slept on Sunday until about 1:30 then got up because I knew I had an 36 strip EKG assignment due on Tuesday & I knew I wouldn't be able to do it Monday since I had Peds clinical.
Worked on my strips for as long as I could but then I was just totally exhausted by 6 pm.
Finally decided I couldn't do it anymore & went to bed at 7:45.
Woke up about 11:30 & looked for my shot records, JUST IN CASE I needed them for some reason the next day. Went back to bed.
Woke up some time in the night & couldn't really get back to sleep, so slept fitfully until 4 am.
Got up at 4 am, got ready & left my house at 4:30 am. Went by the McDonald's drive thru in my town to grab some breakfast and COFFEE, sign on drive thru said "Closed until further notice".
Went to the McDonald's in the next town over & got a Caramel Frappe & a sausage mcgriddle. Didn't realize a frappe was a frozen drink & got a stupid sausage mcmuffin instead of the mcgriddle that I ordered.
Got to Vanderbilt & drove to the stadium where we were supposed to park & catch the shuttle to take us to the hospital, could NOT find where to park, panicked & drove back to the hospital & parked in visitor parking.
SNUCK into the building so I wouldn't get seen by the parking police & get a ticket. Was so worried about that that I totally left all of my clinical paperwork in the car!
Realized that I had NO clicincal paperwork & panic mode set in BIG TIME.
Met my PRECIOUS, 2 mo old patient and proceeded to completely fall in love with him. Then met his mother who was, let's just say, a little less than thrilled with anything we were doing.
Was asked by the grandmother if I was a tech. THEN was asked by the grandmother if I had grandchildren of my own!!! **Note to self - You really need to start wearing some make-up to clinical.**
Proceeded to spend the day caring for the precious baby & getting to know the mom (who eventually woke up & was much more pleasant).
LOVE EVERY MINUTE OF CARING FOR THIS BABY!!!!
Copied one of my classmates paperwork since I was an idiot & forgot mine.
Finished my paperwork & was pleased to see the instructor wrote "Good job, well written" on my paperwork.
Left the hospital went straight to The Cheesecake Factory & ordered THREE extremely expensive pieces of cheesecake. Which btw Red Velvet Cheesecake is FABULOUS!!!!!!!!!
Got home & worked on the rest of my EKG strips, went to bed around midnight & totally skipped CC class today. Whew!
So that was it. My first day of Peds. Thank God we didn't have to give meds that day. She wanted us to just get used to the site & caring for tiny humans. I have to be honest, I totally thought I would love Peds & I was right, I LOVED it!! I loved the unit, the nurses, the doctors & residents that were there, the precious patients, I loved everything about it. I can't WAIT to go back next week & now that I know what to expect I will feel MUCH more comfortable. I have to admit though, I didn't think I would like caring for babies but boy I was SO wrong. I loved it!!! He was so precious!
Sooo, this makes me think, should I go for my PNP or my FNP??? I KNOW for a fact that I do NOT like taking care of grown ups. I've seen that time & time again when I work on my Med/Surg floor, BUT I'm worried that getting my PNP will restrict me from job opportunties. On the flip side though, I'm sure I would lose jobs who are looking for PNP's only if I have my FNP. It's kind of nerve wracking thinking about it. Especially since I have to start applying to schoools w/in the next 6 months........Maybe I be more clear about it once my Peds rotation is over. Maybe I can find a PNP there to talk to.....I know Dana would probably encourage me to get my PNP, but I'm so torn right now....
Anyhoo, I'm glad to say I am finally in PEDS & I LOVE it!!!!!!!!!!!!
How is school going for everyone else?
Worked 7p-7a Saturday night. Slept on Sunday until about 1:30 then got up because I knew I had an 36 strip EKG assignment due on Tuesday & I knew I wouldn't be able to do it Monday since I had Peds clinical.
Worked on my strips for as long as I could but then I was just totally exhausted by 6 pm.
Finally decided I couldn't do it anymore & went to bed at 7:45.
Woke up about 11:30 & looked for my shot records, JUST IN CASE I needed them for some reason the next day. Went back to bed.
Woke up some time in the night & couldn't really get back to sleep, so slept fitfully until 4 am.
Got up at 4 am, got ready & left my house at 4:30 am. Went by the McDonald's drive thru in my town to grab some breakfast and COFFEE, sign on drive thru said "Closed until further notice".
Went to the McDonald's in the next town over & got a Caramel Frappe & a sausage mcgriddle. Didn't realize a frappe was a frozen drink & got a stupid sausage mcmuffin instead of the mcgriddle that I ordered.
Got to Vanderbilt & drove to the stadium where we were supposed to park & catch the shuttle to take us to the hospital, could NOT find where to park, panicked & drove back to the hospital & parked in visitor parking.
SNUCK into the building so I wouldn't get seen by the parking police & get a ticket. Was so worried about that that I totally left all of my clinical paperwork in the car!
Realized that I had NO clicincal paperwork & panic mode set in BIG TIME.
Met my PRECIOUS, 2 mo old patient and proceeded to completely fall in love with him. Then met his mother who was, let's just say, a little less than thrilled with anything we were doing.
Was asked by the grandmother if I was a tech. THEN was asked by the grandmother if I had grandchildren of my own!!! **Note to self - You really need to start wearing some make-up to clinical.**
Proceeded to spend the day caring for the precious baby & getting to know the mom (who eventually woke up & was much more pleasant).
LOVE EVERY MINUTE OF CARING FOR THIS BABY!!!!
Copied one of my classmates paperwork since I was an idiot & forgot mine.
Finished my paperwork & was pleased to see the instructor wrote "Good job, well written" on my paperwork.
Left the hospital went straight to The Cheesecake Factory & ordered THREE extremely expensive pieces of cheesecake. Which btw Red Velvet Cheesecake is FABULOUS!!!!!!!!!
Got home & worked on the rest of my EKG strips, went to bed around midnight & totally skipped CC class today. Whew!
So that was it. My first day of Peds. Thank God we didn't have to give meds that day. She wanted us to just get used to the site & caring for tiny humans. I have to be honest, I totally thought I would love Peds & I was right, I LOVED it!! I loved the unit, the nurses, the doctors & residents that were there, the precious patients, I loved everything about it. I can't WAIT to go back next week & now that I know what to expect I will feel MUCH more comfortable. I have to admit though, I didn't think I would like caring for babies but boy I was SO wrong. I loved it!!! He was so precious!
Sooo, this makes me think, should I go for my PNP or my FNP??? I KNOW for a fact that I do NOT like taking care of grown ups. I've seen that time & time again when I work on my Med/Surg floor, BUT I'm worried that getting my PNP will restrict me from job opportunties. On the flip side though, I'm sure I would lose jobs who are looking for PNP's only if I have my FNP. It's kind of nerve wracking thinking about it. Especially since I have to start applying to schoools w/in the next 6 months........Maybe I be more clear about it once my Peds rotation is over. Maybe I can find a PNP there to talk to.....I know Dana would probably encourage me to get my PNP, but I'm so torn right now....
Anyhoo, I'm glad to say I am finally in PEDS & I LOVE it!!!!!!!!!!!!
How is school going for everyone else?
Glad your day turned out good.
ReplyDeleteThanks! It was really exciting, it actually made me excited about nursing again, which I needed at this point.
DeleteI just started the nursing program and I have 2 years until my peds clinicals but I am so excited for them after reading this! I'm so glad that your first day there went so well and I hope all of your clinicals there continue to be amazing.
ReplyDelete