tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-46957104521983375872024-02-19T02:09:19.021-08:00Altered Mental Status and Other Vital SignsJust another student nurse blog.Medicoglia, RNhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01894674563874832457noreply@blogger.comBlogger22125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4695710452198337587.post-40929752206030284302013-03-15T09:37:00.001-07:002013-03-15T09:37:19.033-07:00I am now a little more than a month into orientation. I started on my unit 2 weeks ago. I had three pts the last week, I will get four next week. My unit is a behavioral med/surg unit...we get everything and everybody is crazy (not just the staff). I'm loving it.Medicoglia, RNhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01894674563874832457noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4695710452198337587.post-69818661110749901222013-01-26T17:49:00.001-08:002013-01-26T17:49:29.757-08:00<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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There were some hairy moments...like the time my paper was due to be submitted online by midnight and I was still working on my careplan at 11:45 pm. Or the time when I got a phone call at 7 am on a clinical day from my sister. She called to let me know my brother had died during the night. I actually went to pre-conference and fully intended to go to my unit...my clinical instructor was having none of that! I did it though...I earned my BSN.<br />
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Everything fell into place so nicely at the end. A month before graduation, a full 3 weeks later than just about everyone in my cohort, I submitted my application and resume at the medical center my school is affiliated with. The next day nurse recruiting called and asked me to come in that day. I shadowed on my first choice unit and interviewed on the spot. 2 days later I had a job offer (which I accepted). I took the NCLEX 3 weeks after graduation, it shut off at the minimum number of questions and I cried on the way home. I passed!<br />
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It is official. I am a brand new, baby RN. Orientation starts in 16 days and I can't wait! <br />
Medicoglia, RNhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01894674563874832457noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4695710452198337587.post-29329888789934688912012-11-06T03:06:00.000-08:002012-11-06T03:06:03.367-08:00The End is Near!!<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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I had intended this blog to chronicle my experiences in nursing school...that hasn't happened! My posts are few and far between. It's update time. I am almost done. I graduate in 6 weeks, 2 days, 9 hours, 56 minutes and 30 seconds (29, 28, 27, 26...)!<br />
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As of this am I have one presentation, one exam, two days of med/surg clinical, one reflection paper, and 100 hours of capstone to go. That is all! Then of course I must pass the NCLEX. <br />
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Medicoglia, RNhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01894674563874832457noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4695710452198337587.post-29326023546248979132012-06-26T04:45:00.000-07:002012-06-26T04:47:37.643-07:00Nursing School<div style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><i>A pictorial review of my first and half-way through my second semesters of nursing school.</i></span></div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><i>what my desk looked like on the first day of classes</i></span></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><i><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgnWN-riO-rJnViEMC7GGTkwrOebnK94WrCmnLVn4ovIVe1zRo96nFn8h9Du80hD-6UCjbaY0MG4Jqf4wqhv2H_nrtBEYydUEHUUyDDmMWAQw5nTX1d67dRM_xQ-IBWPRGZOmRQxxubJyY/s1600/My+desk,+my+life+006.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgnWN-riO-rJnViEMC7GGTkwrOebnK94WrCmnLVn4ovIVe1zRo96nFn8h9Du80hD-6UCjbaY0MG4Jqf4wqhv2H_nrtBEYydUEHUUyDDmMWAQw5nTX1d67dRM_xQ-IBWPRGZOmRQxxubJyY/s320/My+desk,+my+life+006.jpg" width="320" /></a></i></span></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><i>My real study space!</i></span></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><i><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgENGlhqHh-q9W-LM_ouhwDRizCW634zam3i3imKz2TFTW4LJN2pmhtHcdOul5TMmJr0LMcOg_g33sDEl3ufRa_WYSmpOsL2yaT3MKaQ3WK8LnfUChPvSJN1NcGaGyDFw2ljH2dXmy0ZOo/s1600/boobks.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgENGlhqHh-q9W-LM_ouhwDRizCW634zam3i3imKz2TFTW4LJN2pmhtHcdOul5TMmJr0LMcOg_g33sDEl3ufRa_WYSmpOsL2yaT3MKaQ3WK8LnfUChPvSJN1NcGaGyDFw2ljH2dXmy0ZOo/s1600/boobks.jpg" /></a></i></span></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><i>A sample of textbooks for nursing school...my stack is actually bigger!</i></span></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><i><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh6mPjxHMgeGWXP0WFtSQZ27Rymlpwx4i5FHFDjeCdwnQHFqi_V9hkidhX8aQvgWLlqNO-T7_TBy5O9UhXt4BzhJYIqPMBZDQxJ4KqgXT9dGMNlc5xEMdj3BjmBBSE9JAe-KLQOh5EPZgc/s1600/sleeping.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="212" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh6mPjxHMgeGWXP0WFtSQZ27Rymlpwx4i5FHFDjeCdwnQHFqi_V9hkidhX8aQvgWLlqNO-T7_TBy5O9UhXt4BzhJYIqPMBZDQxJ4KqgXT9dGMNlc5xEMdj3BjmBBSE9JAe-KLQOh5EPZgc/s320/sleeping.jpg" width="320" /></a></i></span></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><i>What happens in study group stays in study group</i></span></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><i><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEizTyjtpimTkvslsl-dW4uy_d0hEuwnuk6sNbXAFYmrXTPJ7KQo26G3pxMXJWkj7LZTAdRlNKH3cebphejuYtSzMPUEAp4iw9wEY_zMEf43mkeNAZokMQ6g_2OWxfHTl3UA_rNKFtbjN84/s1600/code+brown.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="224" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEizTyjtpimTkvslsl-dW4uy_d0hEuwnuk6sNbXAFYmrXTPJ7KQo26G3pxMXJWkj7LZTAdRlNKH3cebphejuYtSzMPUEAp4iw9wEY_zMEf43mkeNAZokMQ6g_2OWxfHTl3UA_rNKFtbjN84/s320/code+brown.jpg" width="320" /></a></i></span></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><i>What I learned in long term care.</i></span></td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><i>Acute care...C. diff. Enough said.</i></span></td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><i>Me in OB/Women's Health clinical.</i></span></td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><i>I know, A stereotype...it's true for the nurse on the PEDS unit I am on now though.</i></span></td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><i>Psych in 4 weeks...will this be my unit preceptor?</i></span></td></tr>
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<br />Medicoglia, RNhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01894674563874832457noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4695710452198337587.post-90800373070827173442012-02-11T09:12:00.000-08:002012-02-11T09:19:26.790-08:00One Month Down...Eleven to go!! <br /><br />Quick and dirty update....<br /><br />I made it to North East USA, cats and partner made it, too. Got some loans. Found a place to live within easy walking distance of medical center and school of nursing. School is CRAZY...I won't say its hard academically, so far...but dear God, the time commitment! Just finished week four and it was such a nice, relaxing week...ummm, yeah...really that just means we had no exams this past week. Next week however, we have THREE!!!! The third pathopharm exam, second assessment exam, and the CNET. YAY...or something!Medicoglia, RNhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01894674563874832457noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4695710452198337587.post-8325849670102409822011-11-19T08:13:00.000-08:002011-11-19T08:30:57.091-08:00Much Anticipated Update (for me anyway! ;))<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjA8_hUm8b_hQEmYxLWXERzb4__TWLcropfGAv3rfvIfhxdVqCcp8JGQ-A7D7rlRZ_JNKM_X4xJj8CRnJfa_ZAOSDWQlBVfsK6Gp7TAonb4JxzbfIj_DJTOVgJL-WK_b1jBa7K9FsagNRE/s1600/22359_237521984778_237521644778_3338914_7856013_n.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 213px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjA8_hUm8b_hQEmYxLWXERzb4__TWLcropfGAv3rfvIfhxdVqCcp8JGQ-A7D7rlRZ_JNKM_X4xJj8CRnJfa_ZAOSDWQlBVfsK6Gp7TAonb4JxzbfIj_DJTOVgJL-WK_b1jBa7K9FsagNRE/s320/22359_237521984778_237521644778_3338914_7856013_n.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5676740953195972978" border="0" /></a><span style="font-size:100%;"><br /><span style=" font-weight: bold;font-family:arial;" >It is official...the above will be my new home for at least one year beginning in January! Of course I will be living in an actual house/apartment of some sort, but I anticipate spending most of my time in the building pictured, and the building across the street from this one (university medical center). Yay!!!</span><br /><br /><span style=" font-weight: bold;font-family:arial;" >I am so excited! I am also completely freaked out...finishing CNA program right before xmas and packing to move all the way across the country. Saying goodbye to lots of people. And biggest thing of all...trying to find and apply to any and all nursing scholarships that I may even remotely qualify for in an attempt to get this paid for! Don't know if I can get student loans since I already have them for my BA.</span><br /><br /><span style=" font-weight: bold;font-family:arial;" >Stressed but happy!</span></span>Medicoglia, RNhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01894674563874832457noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4695710452198337587.post-88092219865796004592011-07-17T00:05:00.000-07:002011-07-17T00:24:12.546-07:00I Got An Interview!!!!<span style="font-weight: bold;">I am SO extremely excited (and a bit nervous)! I have an interview with Small Prestigious Northeast Nursing school!! Interestingly, very early in my considerations, this school was my first choice school. It got replaced by Large Prestigious Southern Nursing school and HUGE Ivy Nursing school...both of which sent me the "sorry, no" letter quite rapidly. I wonder if it's a similar situation to multiple choice exams...you go with your first choice and don't change it. </span><br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Clearly I won't be placing all my eggs in one basket, I still have other applications to submit....but I GOT AN INTERVIEW!!!! Just thought I would shout that out one more time!</span><br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Thanks to all who replied to my request for help...I did rewrite entirely. My years of childhood trauma became "a difficult childhood" which helped me to learn to "thrive in chaotic environments" (hat tip to Kim at </span><a style="font-weight: bold;" href="http://www.emergiblog.com/">Emergiblog</a><span style="font-weight: bold;">). </span><br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">The interview is August 31.</span>Medicoglia, RNhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01894674563874832457noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4695710452198337587.post-64499464286145734752011-04-10T09:53:00.000-07:002011-04-10T10:45:52.695-07:00Seeking opinions, comments, and/or advice from nurses in any specialty<span style="font-size:130%;"><span style="font-family:georgia;">First, the lead in....</span><br /><br /><span style="font-family:georgia;">I am having difficulty getting accepted into a nursing program. I have been applying to combined second degree BSN/MSN programs with Family Nurse Practitioner as a chosen specialty and working in Indian Health as an intended career goal. I have a couple more of these programs to apply to since application deadlines are all different. I am now also considering applying to second degree BSN programs with the intention of completing the MSN later. There is a local ADN program and a BSN bridge at the University I just graduated from; however, the ADN program is nearly impossible to get into. I have a friend that applied to the program 4 times (once a year), had a 4.0 and was working as an EMT, was wait-listed each time. She gave up and is now pursuing a different degree. I completed my BA in Sociology with a minor in Biology (human concentration) last December, so traditional BSN programs are not an option at this point. Neither school offers pre-nursing advising...it's a situation of take the pre-req's, apply, if you get in then you get advising.</span><br /><br /><span style="font-family:georgia;">Second, the potential problem...</span><br /><br /><span style="font-family:georgia;">When I met with my adviser to go over additions to my C.V. and changes in my personal/goals statement for the next round of applications, she had a thought...maybe "my story" is the problem. I spoke with my Aunt who has been a Psych RN for 25 years and she agrees that this very well could be the issue.</span><br /><br /><span style="font-family:georgia;">I had an extremely difficult childhood. I do not go into details on my apps, and I won't here either, but I will give a little bit of info. At 6 months old I was dropped off for a weekend visit at my great Aunts home, my mother came back 3 1/2 YEARS later with one hour notice to pick me up. So basically, my earliest years were as the baby in a family of 5 children, 3 older brothers and an older sister, then suddenly I was the only child in a very young military family...with parents I didn't even know. I saw the great Aunt two or three times throughout my childhood and early adulthood, I saw the "big sister" once, and never saw the "brothers" again...until the funeral of the great Aunt, when I was 27 years old. </span><br /><br /><span style="font-family:georgia;">After being taken back by my mother, a little brother arrived, we moved A LOT (military), and I never felt I fit in either where we lived or in my own family. My parents were emotionally and physically abusive...severely. I barely made it through school, and moved out as quickly as possibly after I graduated high school. I made a few attempts at taking classes at the community college, but never succeeded...either dropping with W's or just not bothering to go or drop and getting F's. As my life fell apart, I sought help initially because the Golden Gate bridge was looking like a viable option for a "direction" for my life to take, since it's a local landmark, this was a very real possibility. Fast forward to now...I was diagnosed with a dissociative disorder and severe anxiety. Both of these are now very well controlled, the dissociative disorder may even be "resolved" (as much as is possible). I graduated with a cumulative GPA of 3.491, a major GPA of 3.91. I've completed all my nursing pre-req's with a 3.0 and I am repeating one class this summer (anatomy). I was a teaching assistant for physiology 3 times, and for microbiology 2 times. I have my BLS for healthcare, am enrolled in a CNA program for the fall, and am working on all the paperwork to be able to volunteer at the hospital. I am a lifetime member of two honor societies, and was president of the campus chapter of one of them for a year. I was also chosen to sit on the Disability Services for Students advisory committee for a year ( a huge honor, appointed by the University President). All of this is good...right?</span><br /><br /><span style="font-family:georgia;">So...is it true that my past psych issues are what is hurting my chances? My overcoming these challenges is a HUGE part of my life. This also is what explains my lower GPA (compared to other applicants), I will never have a 4.0 because of the earlier attempts at college. I am very frustrated...I really don't have any other "story" to tell. I worked very hard to get in the place of healing that I am at now, and I worked very hard to achieve success in school. I know I will succeed in a program, even an accelerated one. I also know that I will be a damn good nurse. Can anyone offer any suggestions?</span></span>Medicoglia, RNhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01894674563874832457noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4695710452198337587.post-78511117961128761722011-03-30T07:41:00.000-07:002011-03-30T09:36:21.708-07:00A Little Compassion People<span style="font-style: italic;">I am an avid reader of medical blogs...I absolutely love them. I especially enjoy ER blogs. Student nurse, nurse, PA, Doc, it doesn't matter, I read away. I find it a bit odd that I enjoy ER blogs considering that I know I will never work in an ER myself. I don't have what it takes. I can handle an emergency, that is true. In fact I become very detached and just "do it". Once the emergency is over I melt down. I can't handle the adrenalin rush that occurs immediately following the end of the "event". Many years ago I was loss prevention in a major department store. I did the job well, catching many people, employees and customers, stealing. I helped secure one of our other stores after a major earthquake (had to travel 45 miles in destruction to do so). Part of my job involved arresting people. There's a specific procedure that has to be followed from suspected theft, through person leaving the store where it becomes actual theft, through the arrest, paperwork, and police involvement. I had no problems with any of this; however, the moment the police (or parent depending on the situation) left with the arrested individual, the rush would hit. Many people thrive on this, I do not. I get hot and begin to sweat, my hands shake, then my whole body begins to shake, I have palpitations followed by a feeling that my heart is going to beat so darn hard it's going to rip right out of my chest. My legs go weak, and I feel nauseous. I know that this will happen to me each and every time I am presented with an emergency and therefore, I plan to get through my ER rotation somehow, and then never set foot in the ER again.</span><br /><br /><span style="font-style: italic;">Most of the time I really enjoy these blogs. I am appreciative of the the writers. These people see the worst of everything society has to offer and keep coming back for more...inspiring sometimes, amazing nearly always. One pattern has emerged that alarms and disappoints me though...the treatment of psych patients in the ER...perhaps "attitudes toward psych patients" is a better statement since I am certain that the actual treatment is appropriate...please tell me I am correct here! I understand that psych patients are a very difficult population and that it takes very special people to work with psych patients exclusively. My Aunt has been a psych nurse for several decades and she is truly very special...in a good way! </span><br /><br /><span style="font-style: italic;">What I have noticed is a lack of understanding, and along with that, a lack of compassion. Sure, the blogs are often written as a form of venting, I get that, but I don't see a lot of negative attitude directed at people whom have had an accident not due to drinking or drugs, or towards people whom have had an acute exacerbation of a chronic illness, etc. I see comments in particular towards people having panic attacks. Things like "your panic attack is not going to become a heart attack if you don't get your ativan right now". I know this is true, you know this is true, people who have panic attacks know this is true. I have had trouble with panic attacks, now well controlled, so I can speak with some authority about this...people in the middle of a panic attack do NOT know this is true, regardless of what their knowledge is when not having a panic attack. People having a panic attack will not believe you when/if you say this to them. If the heart becomes the focus when the panic attack hits, the person will absolutely believe not that they are going to have a heart attack, but rather that they ARE CURRENTLY HAVING said heart attack, and if they have not learned cognitive skills to cope or the attack has become full-blown, there is absolutely nothing you can say that will change their mind. Once the attack is over, the person will realize that it was a panic attack, they will probably be embarrassed, and they will fear having another attack because it is so frightening and so embarrassing. Is it really so hard to understand they are having irrational fear and physical symptoms that will pass if you just have a little compassion and give them the ativan? Let me repeat that...give them the ativan. If you have another patient that has a life or limb threatening event happening, then by all means, make the panic attack wait, it may even pass on it's own given a little time. However, getting angry with the panicking patient that actually believes they too are dying does not help, them or you.</span>Medicoglia, RNhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01894674563874832457noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4695710452198337587.post-62578489462989814322011-02-20T19:03:00.000-08:002011-02-20T19:43:57.313-08:00Neglected blog<span style="font-style: italic;">It has been nearly two years since I last posted. In that time I have graduated (Dec. 17, 2010) with a BA in Sociology and a Biology minor. I worked my hind end off and pulled a 3.491 Cum GPA...I was shooting for a 3.5 so I was a little disappointed. This is a seriously major accomplishment since my GPA was somewhere around a 1.0 (or lower) when I finally pulled myself together and started succeeding in school. After transferring to the 4-year University, I have a 3.82 in the last 75 units.</span><br /><br /><span style="font-style: italic;">My BA is done. My Bio minor is done. I am taking classes at the local Community College to keep my loans deferred. I have applied to a few programs. I'm looking at Direct entry masters programs...with <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_0">FNP</span> as end result. I am getting very frustrated. Some programs have <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1">prereqs</span> that are considered nursing classes in CA; I can't take them until I'm in a program, but they are <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_2">prereqs</span> for some programs...catch-22. </span><br /><br /><span style="font-style: italic;">I feel I am an excellent candidate. I have overcome serious obstacles in my life, and I believe my transcripts and C.V. reflect that...IF I would be given the opportunity to talk about it. The essays don't allow me to do that. The programs want a specific question answered, or they want a goal statement in 200 words or less...no one asks for a personal statement. I'm frustrated. I did not get accepted to my "oh what the heck, I'll give it a shot" school (not particularly surprised), but I also did not get accepted to my first choice "this program and I are an absolute perfect match" school. I'm frustrated. I don't know how to make my seemingly mediocre credentials reflect how awesome they actually are. </span><br /><br /><span style="font-style: italic;">I just want to go to nursing school...somewhere! My self-esteem was pretty good...it sucks right about now.</span>Medicoglia, RNhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01894674563874832457noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4695710452198337587.post-87096709911542551612009-03-12T09:58:00.000-07:002009-03-12T10:18:53.191-07:00<span style="font-family: georgia; font-style: italic; color: rgb(153, 51, 0);">Well...I did it. I spoke to a Biology Department adviser and am now an officially declared Biology minor. I have to take two, three unit 100-level classes, and then I need four units of upper division Bio (with lab). That's it. I'm considering Medical Microbiology, Immunology, and Virology...but there may be something else that sounds really interesting. </span><br /><br /><span style="font-family: georgia; font-style: italic; color: rgb(153, 51, 0);">In other news...the two other Physiology TA's and I just finished correcting our portion of the first midterm for Physio. We corrected the multiple choice and the short essay questions...the Professor is correcting the two long essays. Good grief they did terribly! Average on the multiple choice was 48% correct...one person got 98% and one got 96%...of course this pulled up the average, so you can imagine just how bad it was. One of the questions I corrected was, "What is a goiter? How does it occur (be specific)? How can hyperthyroidism cause a goiter? Hypothyroidism?". One answer was "A goiter is a lump, sometimes in the neck. Hyperthyroidism is because there's too much. Hypothyrodism is because there's too little". I kid you not! No one mentioned TSH, TRH, negative feedback, or recepter activity; few mentioned Iodine...and one that did simply said that salt in America is iodized so no one in America gets goiters because there isn't a lack of Iodine in the diet! </span><br /><br /><span style="font-family: georgia; font-style: italic; color: rgb(153, 51, 0);">Maybe more than one person will start showing up for study review sessions each week?!?</span>Medicoglia, RNhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01894674563874832457noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4695710452198337587.post-71312120492194832532009-02-14T10:36:00.000-08:002009-02-14T10:46:17.169-08:00Overwhelmed<span style="font-family: georgia; font-style: italic;">I am now a second semester junior. As it stands now my majors are officially Sociology and Pre-nursing. I am taking Microbiology this semester...and so far, it rocks! I am loving the class. The Professor is fantastic...encouraging, very hands-on in lab, website with lots of extra credit things to do, etc. Got a 90% on the first quiz...it would have been 100% but I misread one question and realized it right after I turned it in. *sigh* I am also TA'ing for the Professor I had for Physiology last semester. Assisting in lab 3 hours a week and will be running weekly study groups with the other 2 TA's starting next Tuesday. After this semester I will have 18 units of Biology; 20 units is required for an official minor. So I will be talking to an advisor, and possibly adding a Bio minor.</span><br /><br /><span style="font-family: georgia; font-style: italic;">Sociology is kicking my butt. I am taking Research Methods and Classical Theory. My Methods Professor had a baby on the 5th...only a few hours after class! So our lectures were canceled all this past week and next Tuesday as well. However, due dates have not been changed for any asignments! So, I have now done 2 asignments with no accompanying lecture, and have another due Tuesday! Just lovely. </span>Medicoglia, RNhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01894674563874832457noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4695710452198337587.post-4653955522865193452007-11-14T07:06:00.000-08:002008-12-11T01:16:35.789-08:00Living the Sweet Life<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg3v-7I45S4mzEl46L9wL9S8pESgWoljkeN97f63xgcEuybNgP3i8ic_C61eM6mRkRWlz6NW7_vRh3yXVvlOqqXcAqyDZTAun7JQJ1UF3c_Rqm8v0C7zYDuCfVOt-IsgnWK_IB1bxk00Rk/s1600-h/CAMFS1MB.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5132718799573241570" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg3v-7I45S4mzEl46L9wL9S8pESgWoljkeN97f63xgcEuybNgP3i8ic_C61eM6mRkRWlz6NW7_vRh3yXVvlOqqXcAqyDZTAun7JQJ1UF3c_Rqm8v0C7zYDuCfVOt-IsgnWK_IB1bxk00Rk/s400/CAMFS1MB.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><div align="center"><em><span style="color:#663300;">For information on diabetes go to...</span></em></div><div align="center"> </div><div align="center"><a href="http://www.diabetes.org/home.jsp">http://www.diabetes.org/home.jsp</a><br /></div>Medicoglia, RNhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01894674563874832457noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4695710452198337587.post-56324435397794612082008-04-29T19:08:00.000-07:002008-04-29T19:18:36.533-07:00Updates<em><span style="font-family:georgia;">The current semester is coming to a close. 3 1/2 weeks counting finals week, and it's done. I'm feeling a little sad...this is IT at this school for me. I graduate 5/24 and head of to "the big kids school" in the fall. I'm enrolled and have registered for my fall classes...Physiology, Poli Sci and two upper division Sociology classes. On Friday I went to orientation. Part of the day was spent with an advisor in each student's major department...got some great advise. I had planned on doing a double major...earning my BA in Sociology while earning my BS in nursing. That has changed. I am still a pre-nursing and Sociolog double major...I will still complete my nursing prereqs (two remaining), but I'm not applying to the BSN program...and in about 3 1/2 years (give or take) I will be a nurse. How's that going to work you ask? I'm so glad you asked! I am now going to complete my BA in Sociology then do the Direct Entry Master's Nursing program! This program is designed specifically for people who have earned a Bachelor's in something other than nursing...but want to be a nurse. The program is 18 months long and all graduates are eligible to take the NCLEX and are eligible to enter the NP program. I'm excited about this new direction!</span></em>Medicoglia, RNhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01894674563874832457noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4695710452198337587.post-90108992349886936922008-01-06T08:09:00.000-08:002008-01-06T08:31:35.281-08:00Updates<span style="font-family:georgia;color:#660000;"><em>I am thinking I may have started this blog a little too early...I'm not even ready to apply to nursing school yet! However, I will try to continue to post here occasionally. It is probably going to be more of a "school blog" than a "nursing blog" for a while though.</em></span><br /><span style="font-family:georgia;color:#660000;"><em></em></span><br /><span style="font-family:georgia;color:#660000;"><em>The Fall semester is over...I passed Anatomy. Everyone in my study group passed. Thank heavens because that is one class I REALLY would not like to repeat! </em></span><br /><span style="font-family:georgia;color:#660000;"><em></em></span><br /><span style="font-family:georgia;color:#660000;"><em>The Spring semester starts the 14th. I have no core sciences this semester. I decided to hold off on the two remaining and to focus on the GE I need for the State University (which I will be transferring to next Fall). So the coming semester consists of Speech 1A (yuck), Statistics, English 5 (critical thinking, instead of Philosophy), Chemistry 42 (to boost my Chem grade for pre-nursing transfer requirements) and weight training. I am taking the weight training class so I have a set time when I will exercise...if I just try to say "from this time to this other time I will exercise"...I won't! This way, I'm getting a grade...have to show up and participate. I also decided to take the 1 1/2 unit class instead of the 1 unit class. This gives me an hour and a half each class session instead of an hour...enough time to de some cardio AND weight train (elipticals, stair steppers and various style of stationary bikes in the gym). </em></span><br /><span style="font-family:georgia;color:#660000;"><em></em></span><br /><span style="font-family:georgia;color:#660000;"><em>**********</em></span><br /><span style="font-family:georgia;color:#660000;"><em></em></span><br /><span style="font-family:georgia;color:#660000;"><em>News on the State University front...</em></span><br /><span style="font-family:georgia;color:#660000;"><em></em></span><br /><span style="font-family:georgia;color:#660000;"><em>I got my official acceptance letter at the beginning of December...contingent on a couple classes I am taking this Spring. There is of course a bunch of stuff I have to do to get ready to go there... send a deposit, attend orientation, visit Disabled Students, a counselor, Financial aid, apply for scholarships, get my immunization records etc! Gracias mucho to my npdoc who pointed out a few weeks ago that I should look into scholarships immediately (even though Anatomy wasn't over) because of deadlines! She was absolutely right!! The two big ones I am applying for had January deadlines...one of them was January 2nd. That app. went out on the 2nd...minus official transcripts since campus was closed. I did include a note about campus being closed and will go order official transcripts to be sent directly, tomorrow. The other scholarship has a deadline of January 15th...I will get that one out this week...just have to finish up the essay.</em></span>Medicoglia, RNhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01894674563874832457noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4695710452198337587.post-55107822919428565762007-11-14T06:09:00.000-08:002007-11-14T06:22:41.024-08:00<span style="color:#663300;"><span style="font-family:georgia;"><em>My Anatomy lab has gone from 25 students (completely full) to 14. People dropped like flies the first two or three weeks and then there was a lull...now people are disappearing and never returning again. I wonder what those people who have dropped recently plan to do. We are way past the "drop without a W" point. Both of the nursing programs in my area look at how many W's you have in core sciences as well as how many times you repeat a core science. It's part of the selection criteria. What am I doing?!? I don't have time to wonder and worry about people I don't really know...how sad is that?</em></span><br /><span style="font-family:georgia;"><em></em></span><br /><span style="font-family:georgia;"><em>Anatomy is kicking my butt! This class is the hardest class I have ever taken. I don't understand why it has to be this hard...I really don't. I don't understand why I have to be able to look at a slice of a brain (prosection) and be able to identify the corpus collasum, intermediate mass, the basal nuclei as well as dozens of other structures! Seriously...how exactly will I be using that as a nurse? I am so ready for this semester to be done.</em></span></span>Medicoglia, RNhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01894674563874832457noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4695710452198337587.post-46583054697324492562007-09-25T08:21:00.000-07:002007-09-25T08:38:45.676-07:00<span style="color:#660000;"><span style="font-family:georgia;"><em>Dissecting went well yesterday. Pretty cool really. My partner and I dissected the left, posterior, upper limb. After about 6 hours of work, all that remains to be done is a small amount of "clean-up". There is still a very small amount of adipose tissue to remove from the area where the long head of the triceps brachii goes under the teres minor, heading for it's origin. There is also a small amount of adipose tissue at the termination point of the triceps brachii. Really about an hour of very careful work...we don't want to cut any muscles or tendons! </em></span><br /><span style="font-family:georgia;"><em></em></span><br /><span style="font-family:georgia;"><em>I'm actually a little disappointed. Because of the lack of available cadavers, each team dissects one small area...and we are done. I would really like to be able to do more, but it's not possible.</em></span></span>Medicoglia, RNhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01894674563874832457noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4695710452198337587.post-80763251164841986492007-09-24T06:57:00.000-07:002007-09-24T07:06:05.841-07:00<span style="font-family:georgia;color:#993399;"><em><strong>Statement made by teacher at beginning of lecture last Wednesday....</strong></em></span><br /><span style="font-family:georgia;color:#999999;"><em>"90% of the people remaining in this class should have dropped after the first lab exam".</em></span><br /><span style="font-family:georgia;color:#999999;"><em></em></span><br /><span style="font-family:georgia;color:#993399;"><em><strong>Overheard in Anatomy wing hallway last week....</strong></em></span><br /><span style="font-family:georgia;color:#999999;"><em><span style="color:#993399;">New adjunct professor (new to our school, has been teaching for years):</span> "This class is far too detailed, it's being made much harder than necessary. It's not even taught this way in pre-med at the UC level".</em></span><br /><span style="font-family:georgia;color:#999999;"><em><span style="color:#993399;">Department head:</span> "It's taught this way here, it will continue to be taught this way here. If you don't like it, you are perfectly free to leave; we'll drop your students and they can try again next semester". </em></span><br /><span style="font-family:georgia;color:#999999;"><em></em></span><br /><span style="font-family:georgia;color:#999999;"><em>Yeah...these are real confidence boosters.</em></span>Medicoglia, RNhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01894674563874832457noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4695710452198337587.post-30674603881793851942007-09-20T08:49:00.000-07:002007-09-24T06:57:40.101-07:00<span style="font-family:georgia;color:#999999;"><em>First Anatomy lab exam down, first Anatomy midterm down. Didn't do well. However, I was in the top 1/3 of the class. That is really scary because I got a 67% on the midterm...bombed the essay portion which is seriously <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_0">bizarre</span> to me because I just do not bomb essays and papers! I got a B on a History paper and freaked! Okay...I think I kind of know what to expect for essays now though...the multiple choice and fill-in was a piece of cake; I missed three, and one of those I went back and changed. Never ever go back and change a multiple choice answer! </em></span><br /><span style="font-family:georgia;color:#999999;"><em></em></span><br /><span style="font-family:georgia;color:#999999;"><em>So that is where I am at. I have another lab exam tomorrow...there is one every two weeks. Then Monday I start <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1">dissecting</span>.</em></span>Medicoglia, RNhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01894674563874832457noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4695710452198337587.post-59357131895525632052007-09-05T05:40:00.000-07:002007-09-05T05:43:36.223-07:00Dense<span style="font-family:georgia;color:#999999;"><em>I have my first Anatomy "mini" midterm today. It's worth 50 points instead of 150 and the prof has made it clear that the purpose of this exam is to weed out the people who are going to fail the class!! Oh boy. :P</em></span><br /><span style="font-family:georgia;color:#999999;"><em></em></span><br /><span style="font-family:georgia;color:#999999;"><em>I have spent the last 30 minutes reviewing connective tissue...areolar, adipose, reticular, dense regular, dense irregular, dense elastic...I'm feeling rather dense myself. :P</em></span>Medicoglia, RNhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01894674563874832457noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4695710452198337587.post-43725018285638311932007-09-01T07:43:00.000-07:002007-09-01T08:58:32.866-07:00<span style="color:#999999;"><em><span style="font-family:georgia;">I am now two weeks into the Fall semester. I have my first Anatomy (mini) exam on Wednesday, the first Anatomy lab exam on Friday and a Spanish exam in another week. Nothing like jumping right in! I don't think I could have made a worse choice in classes to take concurrently...Anatomy, might as well move a bed into the lab; Spanish, tons of workbook and text pages each week plus mandatory language lab hours. There is one scheduling choice that would be worse...Anatomy, Physiology and Micro, concurrently! </span></em><br /><em><span style="font-family:georgia;"></span></em><br /><em><span style="font-family:georgia;">**********************</span></em><br /><em><span style="font-family:georgia;"></span></em><br /><em><span style="font-family:georgia;">I am about 95% decided that I will transfer to a nearby 4-year university as a pre-nursing student. Here is what I have been mulling over...</span></em><br /><em><span style="font-family:georgia;"></span></em><br /><em><span style="font-family:georgia;">1. Pre-nursing students at the 4-year university get first preference for admittance to the nursing program at that school. </span></em><br /><em><span style="font-family:georgia;">2. Students that meet admission requirements at the school I am at now are put in a lottery for acceptance. Everyone's name gets "thrown in a hat" and people are accepted randomly. Those not accepted get put on a waiting list, if anyone drops IN THE FIRST QUARTER ONLY, waiting list people are moved into the spot. When the next semester begins, the next lottery begins...and all wanting to be in the lottery have to REAPPLY to the program! I have talked to some people who have gotten in on the first round. However, I had someone in a class last semester who was completely changing the direction of her education because she had been through the lottery and wait-listed FIVE TIMES!! That would be two and a half years that she had been trying to get into the program!! </span></em><br /><em><span style="font-family:georgia;">3. I have finally gotten to a place in my life where my education is a personal priority. I am not getting an education in order to "make the big bucks"...although the increased earning potential WILL be nice, it is not the main reason I am going to school. As a teenager I was the kid who didn't do hardly any of the homework. If a paper was required to pass the class then I would write the paper, the night before it was due. I would often not go to class at all, then show up on days there was a test. I would often ace the test or get B's. Although I would get very high scores on tests, I would get zeros on homework and attendance and any class activities that happened while I was not there. I barely graduated because of this. I also spent a lot of time thinking "I can't do this"... never recognizing (until recently) that if I actually did some of the work...not even ALL of the work, just SOME...I would have probably been a straight A student. Now that things have changed in my life, I am enjoying school. I have learned the value of studying (and actually learned HOW to study). I have discovered that I LIKE school! How cool is that?!? I like learning, I like hearing people's ideas during discussions in classes, I liked making aspirin in Chemistry (and also liked putting a tiny drop of a yellow chemical into my tube of clear chemical and watching it smoke and turn royal blue!). </span></em><br /><em><span style="font-family:georgia;">4. I am graduating soon. After this semester I can petition to graduate with an AA in Social and Behavioral Sciences. It feels somehow "wrong" to graduate and then continue at the same school. I already have 68 units of lower division, transferable credit...continuing at the same school will keep adding on lower division credit. Why do that? If I'm going to continue taking classes, why not take classes that will actually count towards a higher degree? </span></em><br /><em><span style="font-family:georgia;">5. I have the financial aid stuff going now. If I start working, I lose a lot of it...some of it is need based and some is due to being "disabled". Working will change my financial need. Working will end my disability benefits. In short, working will make returning to school at a later date very, very difficult financially. </span></em><br /><em><span style="font-family:georgia;">6. Working will also effect my forward momentum...inertia may set in. I think I am starting to know myself pretty well. If I go work for a couple years, I will forget that I like school, I will forget that I'm good at it. I won't go back. It took 15 years for me to go back this time. If I get an ADN, go to work and then take 15 years to go back...I'll be 56 years old when I START back...that alone is likely to make me not go back. There is also the issue that when I am 56 years old, my partner will be 68. She is a very young 50 right now, but she is starting to talk about "when I retire"...and I want her to actually be ABLE TO retire if that is what she wants to do. If I am going to school (still or again), she won't be able to retire. </span></em><br /><em><span style="font-family:georgia;">7. If I transfer to a 4 year university and finish there, I will be the first person on the maternal side of my family to achieve a 4 year degree. I will be the forth person on the paternal side. Interestingly, two of the three from the paternal side of the family have degrees from the same school I am considering...one of them is a BSN. The third one was my Grandmother...she was a 5th grade teacher. Two of her three children got Bachelor's degrees and the third got an Associate's and then a couple years of trade school. I would be the first (and possibly only) one of the three grandchildren to graduate from a 4 year university. It sounds a little lame but is important to me just the same. I spent many years feeling like the idiot failure that would never amount to anything...whether people actually said this to me or my perception was off kilter does not matter...I felt this way. I no longer do now. Getting my Bachelor's will be proof (to myself) that I am not an idiot.</span></em><br /><em><span style="font-family:georgia;"></span></em><br /><em><span style="font-family:georgia;">So there you have it...it looks like I am actually more than 95% decided!</span></em></span>Medicoglia, RNhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01894674563874832457noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4695710452198337587.post-12523266765485782522007-08-18T10:11:00.000-07:002007-08-18T10:30:35.437-07:00Decisions<span style="font-family:georgia;color:#999999;"><em>I'm a struggling, pre-nursing student. Actually, my grades indicate I am not struggling too much, but it certainly feels like a struggle to me. I am at the point where I have core sciences to take, and that's it if I want to go for an ADN. However, I am also at the point where I have to make some decisions. I'm not entirely sure I WANT to go for the ADN. Would going for the BSN be better? I'm not sure. The school I am at now only offers the ADN. The school one town over offers BSN and Master's...and one town over is more like a suberb than another town, so it really isn't far to travel. </em></span><br /><span style="font-family:georgia;color:#999999;"><em></em></span><br /><span style="font-family:georgia;color:#999999;"><em>If I go for the ADN (and get in to the program right away) I will be done in three years. One year to finish core sciences and two years for the nursing program. If I decide to go for the BSN (and get in to the nursing program right away) I will be done in four years. One year to finish core sciences and transfer requirements (which I have been taking already) and three years for the nursing program. I could do the ADN and then bridge to the BSN...that would take five years though. I'm not quite sure how that works, but it's three years to get the ADN and then two additional years for the BSN...plus the year of prep I am doing. The last option is to get the ADN and call it a day. I think I need to hear from some RN's!! I need advice, stories, real-life issues...etc.</em></span>Medicoglia, RNhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01894674563874832457noreply@blogger.com3