Clinical!

My first day of clinical was a success. I had a bit of apprehension when we first got there but today was pretty low key. Today we were paired up in two's but generally we will be on our own. We accompanied our patient to PT/OT which is where we spent most of our time but we did take the patient back to their room and got to practice/take Vital Signs (VS).

Overall I would say that it was a good experience and I can definitely tell that clinical is the way to gain the majority of the knowledge and to really put into practice what they are telling us.

Next week I will have a new patient and am supposed to work on VS, Respiratory sounds, AM activities and anything else I learn from now until then! Can't wait!!

First Week and Clinical Info

I survived my first week! I realized I now only have 8 more weeks of class and then one week of finals and the first semester is over! Yikes!!

The first week was fantastic! There is a TON of reading, for which I have decided to train myself in speed reading when I go home for break. The classes are long and the amount of important information I receive is ridiculous! I have about a 35 hour week which includes a lot of lecture, a lot of lab, and 6 hours of clinical.

This week we didn't have real clinical, it turns out they want us to know a little bit of information before putting us in with real patients but I did get my assignment. I will spend the next 8 weeks in a rehab facility for spinal cord injuries/neuro with some medical overflow. As I understand it, patients could be of all ages with a vast number of reasons for visit. I will be working on vital signs and complete health histories my first week! Just to spark your imagination, here are two beautiful pictures of my uniform!! I wore my stethoscope for effect. Please pay special attention to the tapered pants and the over-sized lab jacket. If that isn't fashion, I don't know what is.

Anyway, this first week was a bit of an adjustment but I feel a lot more settled in Baltimore and I am getting into a rhythm for studying so that is good.

This weekend will be spent READING mostly, this morning I read about safety at home, in the hospital and in general and I also read self care and hygiene. Thrilling. Back to studying!

HOT!!!

I just looked at the weather forecast this morning for Baltimore . . .

87 Today
96 Tomorrow
98 Sunday
100 Monday

I am going to melt!!!

Word of the Day

Diaphoresis - excessive sweating commonly associated with shock and other medical emergency conditions.

Diaphoretic - the state of perspiring profusely, or something that has the power to cause increased perspiration.

First Day of School

It is a tradition in my family that on the first day of school you have your picture taken. Here's mine!

My first day of class went really well and I am excited for the first week so that I can get a taste of all of my classes and a better feel for everything.