As a parting gift when I left my first career, my boss presented me with a nursing textbook from 1926. Its original owner had signed the inside cover, and had studied in my city, in 1930. The full title is, "Text-Book of Nursing Technique", by Irene V. Kelley, R.N.
The textbook even contained some inserted, loose pages, that were nursing school exams from the early 1930s!
All I can say, is wow, has the field of nursing ever come a looooong way since then.
Naturally, given my love of obstetrics/L&D, I went to that section of the textbook first. There were many notable paragraphs in it, but I want to highlight two here:
1- During the second stage of labour, the nurse is to "anticipate the physician's wants, and act quickly." I realize that is certainly the ideal situation and exemplified good teamwork, when each team member knows what the other is doing and what that person may require. However, I found it amusing to have a nurses's role spelled out that way.
2- the other sentence that I really loved, was in a section that described how a nurse is to care for a premature baby. The textbook reads as follows, "The salient features of the care of thepremature are: Keeping the tiny morsel of humanity evenly and constantly warm."
Yes, I want to work with "tiny morsels of humanity". That's so sweetly written. :-)
Wednesday, January 30, 2013
Monday, January 28, 2013
Inspired Words for Today
Even though I am loving being in nursing school and thoroughly enjoying all the gifts and experiences that making this career-shift have brought me, I seem to struggle with getting through January. This same phenomenon happened last year, too.
I don't know if it is the post-Christmas build-up let-down (if that makes any sense!) or simply the dark, freezing days. It has been one of those weeks that happen in Canada -- where the temperatures plunge so cold, that it is truly impossible for average people like me to enjoy the outdoors.
It is a week of being too cold to take the family skiing (like we do weekly), tobogganing, the snow is too crumbly to build anything with it, the kids are kept indoors every school recess because of the frostbite they'd get in a couple minutes. I dread the thought of even having to go outside, as I know my nose and lungs will feel frozen in seconds. Maybe this is the so-called "cabin fever" phenomenon, where people have simply been cooped up inside for too long...
Before anyone reads too much into this complaint, I must say this is not a clinical issue -- I just find it a wee bit harder to motivate myself to keep as active, energetic and eating well as I do the rest of the year. It is frustrating to me to not have my usual energy and motivation levels, even if these moments are relatively brief.
However, the extreme deep-freeze of last week is over, and the days are getting noticeably less dark. This is all good! Apparently I don't do well in extremely cold, dark climates. Give me palm trees and a beach any day....
All of that intro to say, that when I am feeling in a bit of a rut, I turn to several blogs I've discovered, and read the archived posts. One of my favourite inspirational blogs is called "Smile With Your Heart", written by a Canadian nurse and fitness/adventure lover, Jenn Thiel. (http://smilewithyourheart.com)
Today, as I was just wrapping up my "fun" computer time, before I turn it to school-related work, I read the following sentences.
"Combine your passions. Create your dream life. Who’s stopping you? If anyone, it’s only yourself. Toss that little voice out the window and keep on keepin’ on. Keep doing what you love. You’ll discover that it really is so much more possible than you thought." (http://smilewithyourheart.com/2011/08/17/day-38-have-a-balanced-day/)
Those are the words I'm taking to heart today. I'm off now to go for a run, as I contemplate with gratitude all the possibilities, people, opportunities, experiences and gifts I've been given in my life, and open my heart, mind and soul with further gratitude to any and all future amazing experiences.
I don't know if it is the post-Christmas build-up let-down (if that makes any sense!) or simply the dark, freezing days. It has been one of those weeks that happen in Canada -- where the temperatures plunge so cold, that it is truly impossible for average people like me to enjoy the outdoors.
It is a week of being too cold to take the family skiing (like we do weekly), tobogganing, the snow is too crumbly to build anything with it, the kids are kept indoors every school recess because of the frostbite they'd get in a couple minutes. I dread the thought of even having to go outside, as I know my nose and lungs will feel frozen in seconds. Maybe this is the so-called "cabin fever" phenomenon, where people have simply been cooped up inside for too long...
Before anyone reads too much into this complaint, I must say this is not a clinical issue -- I just find it a wee bit harder to motivate myself to keep as active, energetic and eating well as I do the rest of the year. It is frustrating to me to not have my usual energy and motivation levels, even if these moments are relatively brief.
However, the extreme deep-freeze of last week is over, and the days are getting noticeably less dark. This is all good! Apparently I don't do well in extremely cold, dark climates. Give me palm trees and a beach any day....
All of that intro to say, that when I am feeling in a bit of a rut, I turn to several blogs I've discovered, and read the archived posts. One of my favourite inspirational blogs is called "Smile With Your Heart", written by a Canadian nurse and fitness/adventure lover, Jenn Thiel. (http://smilewithyourheart.com)
Today, as I was just wrapping up my "fun" computer time, before I turn it to school-related work, I read the following sentences.
"Combine your passions. Create your dream life. Who’s stopping you? If anyone, it’s only yourself. Toss that little voice out the window and keep on keepin’ on. Keep doing what you love. You’ll discover that it really is so much more possible than you thought." (http://smilewithyourheart.com/2011/08/17/day-38-have-a-balanced-day/)
Those are the words I'm taking to heart today. I'm off now to go for a run, as I contemplate with gratitude all the possibilities, people, opportunities, experiences and gifts I've been given in my life, and open my heart, mind and soul with further gratitude to any and all future amazing experiences.
Sunday, January 27, 2013
Two clinical shifts in two days!
This week was fun. We had two public health clinical shifts in two consecutive days. The first taste of what actually working as a nurse will be like. I cannot wait to be doing this work 'for real', not just as a student nurse...
Our first placement was a school nurse experience. After we all introduced ourselves, kids and nurses, the children were told to choose a student nurse to be paired up with. I couldn't believe my eyes, when the second child who was to choose, a little boy, made a beeline straight towards me! Maybe I reminded him of his mom??? LOL!!! He was a sweetie, and actually reminded me very much of my own son, when he was that age.
We spent a very (very!) busy afternoon with each of our kindergarten "kids" -- playing with them, and trying to get the assessments we needed for our school work. I must say, that I was pleasantly surprised that I was able to get as much info as I did, during that first day. We have two more school placements with 'our' kids, in order to finish up the assessments, write a report, and teach a health-related lesson to the class.
The key to getting young children to cooperate with medical assessments, is to turn the assesssments into a game. This point was emphasized by our lab teachers (teaching to many students who don't have kids), and by my life experience as a mom. I was pleased with my idea of playing "Simon Says" with my little guy, in order to assess his range of motion of his various limbs that I was supposed to. And of course, we both took turns playing Simon Says, so I got quite the workout too! To get him to step on the scale to be weighed, we decided to weigh his toy Batmobile first and then him, to see how they compared. We had fun.
The other neat idea I had was to first play with the medical kit I found in the classroom, particularly with the toy stethoscope. After playing with that for a bit, I asked him if wanted to see my real stethosope, that he could really hear with heartbeat with. He was thrilled!!!
Yet another thing I love about nursing, is how you get to (have to!) use your creativity and wits, and be able to think on the spot. Come to think of it, that statement would be equally applicable to working with children and many other groups too.
But I have the priviledge of getting to think and act creatively in the field of nursing...and I love it.
Oh yes, then the following day, we had our second clinical shift at the blood pressure check booth, at a local mall. What a day/night difference we all felt, compared to our first mall experience. The change was palpable in everyone. We were confident, we were more outgoing, we looked more professional in talking to the clients, we heard those Korokoff sounds when measuring the blood pressure. We rocked.
I'm very much looking forward to continue building on that feeling of confidence in my nursing career, as other clinical experiences come my way in the coming weeks and months.
I realize I am eons away from feeling confident as a registered nurse, that even one day when I graduate and can call myself that, that I will always be learning and bettering my abilities, knowledge and skills.
Yet, what I can already see, is how even simple experiences can lead to increased confidence, and how that all builds upon more experience. It's a positive confidence spiral.
Our first placement was a school nurse experience. After we all introduced ourselves, kids and nurses, the children were told to choose a student nurse to be paired up with. I couldn't believe my eyes, when the second child who was to choose, a little boy, made a beeline straight towards me! Maybe I reminded him of his mom??? LOL!!! He was a sweetie, and actually reminded me very much of my own son, when he was that age.
We spent a very (very!) busy afternoon with each of our kindergarten "kids" -- playing with them, and trying to get the assessments we needed for our school work. I must say, that I was pleasantly surprised that I was able to get as much info as I did, during that first day. We have two more school placements with 'our' kids, in order to finish up the assessments, write a report, and teach a health-related lesson to the class.
The key to getting young children to cooperate with medical assessments, is to turn the assesssments into a game. This point was emphasized by our lab teachers (teaching to many students who don't have kids), and by my life experience as a mom. I was pleased with my idea of playing "Simon Says" with my little guy, in order to assess his range of motion of his various limbs that I was supposed to. And of course, we both took turns playing Simon Says, so I got quite the workout too! To get him to step on the scale to be weighed, we decided to weigh his toy Batmobile first and then him, to see how they compared. We had fun.
The other neat idea I had was to first play with the medical kit I found in the classroom, particularly with the toy stethoscope. After playing with that for a bit, I asked him if wanted to see my real stethosope, that he could really hear with heartbeat with. He was thrilled!!!
Yet another thing I love about nursing, is how you get to (have to!) use your creativity and wits, and be able to think on the spot. Come to think of it, that statement would be equally applicable to working with children and many other groups too.
But I have the priviledge of getting to think and act creatively in the field of nursing...and I love it.
Oh yes, then the following day, we had our second clinical shift at the blood pressure check booth, at a local mall. What a day/night difference we all felt, compared to our first mall experience. The change was palpable in everyone. We were confident, we were more outgoing, we looked more professional in talking to the clients, we heard those Korokoff sounds when measuring the blood pressure. We rocked.
I'm very much looking forward to continue building on that feeling of confidence in my nursing career, as other clinical experiences come my way in the coming weeks and months.
I realize I am eons away from feeling confident as a registered nurse, that even one day when I graduate and can call myself that, that I will always be learning and bettering my abilities, knowledge and skills.
Yet, what I can already see, is how even simple experiences can lead to increased confidence, and how that all builds upon more experience. It's a positive confidence spiral.
Friday, January 25, 2013
Busy days!
I knew this term would be much busier than previous terms, but I hadn't realized just how much busier it would be. Busy, but very interesting!
It is a different kind of busy compared to the first three terms. For those terms, it was busy as in so much time was spent staring at textbooks, memorizing minute details of physiology, anatomy and microbiology.
This term seems to be more of a 'general concepts' type of approach to learning. There still will be details to memorize for exams -- we'll never get fully away from that! - but the lectures deal with an increased emphasis on the bigger picture.
In our last 'Intro to Nursing Science' class, for example, we discussed the Canadian health care system, as it relates to government funding, policy, division of resources, priorities of funding and federal vs. provincial government roles in funding and managing the system. I think it is very important to know how the system works, where we as nurses fit into that system, and where we can and should have some influence to better it.
For myself, I've spent enough years working in the government arena, that I seem to be quite 'allergic' to anything remotely political in nature. I think I'll be quite happy simply being a 'worker bee' in the health care system, and leave the policy change meetings and process to others...but then again, having such a deep knowledge and significant experience in how the machinery of government system works, who knows where I'll end up.... For the time being, maternal health/L&D, paeds, ICU or Emerg are my priorities, and NOT sitting in government meetings!!! Been there, done that.
Getting back to the busy current school term, the clinical placements all require some type of follow-up documentation piece to be written, which I didn't realize before starting them, would be part of the process. And we are not even talking about 'care plans' yet, as we haven't started our long-term care rotation...I am certain those will be added to the mix soon enough! Lots of writing to do -- good thing I love writing (even if its not creative writing we're doing at school -- its still writing!)
Today I will be continuing my Public Health placement by starting my school nurse rotation. I will have the priviledge of being part of a kindergarten class for a few weeks, and doing 'well child' health assessments. I've very excited to be going to today's placement. I love being with little kids, and did a lot of volunteering in my youngest child's kindergarten class last year -- I have a good idea of what we're getting into today! It will be busy!!! I also have to finish up my public information/outreach placement with the blood pressure clinic in a local shopping mall in the coming days.
Busy few days ahead! I'm so lovin' this experience!!!
Have I mentioned lately how grateful and totally contented I am, to be in nursing school and undertaking a career change??? It's probably been a week or two since I last mentioned that.
If anyone is even remotely dreaming of making a career change, and you have a good idea of where you'd want to change it to, all I can say is 'go for it'. Making that decision to change career was, I think, the hardest decision of my life. But once it was made, and I was on the new path, it was like a weight lifted from my whole body, and even though there have been stressful times and exam periods, overall, it has truly been amazing. I'm so much happier, content, my outlook is brighter, I'm having more fun with my family...I simply feel like I'm truly living my life now, and not just getting through each day.
It is an amazing feeling to be doing something you truly love.
Try it for yourself, and find out exactly what I mean.
It is a different kind of busy compared to the first three terms. For those terms, it was busy as in so much time was spent staring at textbooks, memorizing minute details of physiology, anatomy and microbiology.
This term seems to be more of a 'general concepts' type of approach to learning. There still will be details to memorize for exams -- we'll never get fully away from that! - but the lectures deal with an increased emphasis on the bigger picture.
In our last 'Intro to Nursing Science' class, for example, we discussed the Canadian health care system, as it relates to government funding, policy, division of resources, priorities of funding and federal vs. provincial government roles in funding and managing the system. I think it is very important to know how the system works, where we as nurses fit into that system, and where we can and should have some influence to better it.
For myself, I've spent enough years working in the government arena, that I seem to be quite 'allergic' to anything remotely political in nature. I think I'll be quite happy simply being a 'worker bee' in the health care system, and leave the policy change meetings and process to others...but then again, having such a deep knowledge and significant experience in how the machinery of government system works, who knows where I'll end up.... For the time being, maternal health/L&D, paeds, ICU or Emerg are my priorities, and NOT sitting in government meetings!!! Been there, done that.
Getting back to the busy current school term, the clinical placements all require some type of follow-up documentation piece to be written, which I didn't realize before starting them, would be part of the process. And we are not even talking about 'care plans' yet, as we haven't started our long-term care rotation...I am certain those will be added to the mix soon enough! Lots of writing to do -- good thing I love writing (even if its not creative writing we're doing at school -- its still writing!)
Today I will be continuing my Public Health placement by starting my school nurse rotation. I will have the priviledge of being part of a kindergarten class for a few weeks, and doing 'well child' health assessments. I've very excited to be going to today's placement. I love being with little kids, and did a lot of volunteering in my youngest child's kindergarten class last year -- I have a good idea of what we're getting into today! It will be busy!!! I also have to finish up my public information/outreach placement with the blood pressure clinic in a local shopping mall in the coming days.
Busy few days ahead! I'm so lovin' this experience!!!
Have I mentioned lately how grateful and totally contented I am, to be in nursing school and undertaking a career change??? It's probably been a week or two since I last mentioned that.
If anyone is even remotely dreaming of making a career change, and you have a good idea of where you'd want to change it to, all I can say is 'go for it'. Making that decision to change career was, I think, the hardest decision of my life. But once it was made, and I was on the new path, it was like a weight lifted from my whole body, and even though there have been stressful times and exam periods, overall, it has truly been amazing. I'm so much happier, content, my outlook is brighter, I'm having more fun with my family...I simply feel like I'm truly living my life now, and not just getting through each day.
It is an amazing feeling to be doing something you truly love.
Try it for yourself, and find out exactly what I mean.
Saturday, January 19, 2013
OB/GYNE Style (Psy - Gangnam Style hospital parody)
OMG -- I love this parody! ("Hey, pregnant lady...Hey, catching babies!")
I dream of being a "baby catcher" one day -- but definitely *not* the type depicted here, with the baby flying across the room (albeit!) into safe arms!!!!
I'm told University of Toronto medical school residents did this video. Awesome job!!!
Enjoy!!!
I dream of being a "baby catcher" one day -- but definitely *not* the type depicted here, with the baby flying across the room (albeit!) into safe arms!!!!
I'm told University of Toronto medical school residents did this video. Awesome job!!!
Enjoy!!!
Friday, January 18, 2013
How could this happen?
Having spent several years of my life in France, both as part of my childhood and adulthood, France had a significant impact on me...both good and not so good! (The latter having to do mostly with Parisian driving skills...but I digress...) I have European citizenship, so have plans and dreams to work in Europe as a nurse one day, when the kids get a bit older. But back to my Canadian reality for now!!!
Because of my love of France and most things French, I still tend to follow the news in France. This headline appeared recently, which I find astounding.
The article talks about a 56 year old patient in a French hospital, just outside of Paris. He went to the washroom and he died on the toilet.
He wasn't an in-patient, but an appointment at the hospital to have a chest x-ray done, as he had been complaining of chest pains for the past few days. He went to use the washroom (presumably in the radiology waiting room), where he suffered a cardiac aneurysm.
I can understand that people don't always show up for their outpatient appointments. Or they show up but for whatever reason decide to leave and not stay to wait for the appointment. So I can understand the radiology staff at the front desk not being overly concerned that he didn't have his x-ray taken.
There's the hygiene issue that is the most surprising -- would no cleaning staff have entered the washroom in 36 hours, in a hospital???
Poor guy. What a way to go.
I hope the hospital is revisiting their policies...
********************************************************************
Because of my love of France and most things French, I still tend to follow the news in France. This headline appeared recently, which I find astounding.
The article talks about a 56 year old patient in a French hospital, just outside of Paris. He went to the washroom and he died on the toilet.
He wasn't an in-patient, but an appointment at the hospital to have a chest x-ray done, as he had been complaining of chest pains for the past few days. He went to use the washroom (presumably in the radiology waiting room), where he suffered a cardiac aneurysm.
I can understand that people don't always show up for their outpatient appointments. Or they show up but for whatever reason decide to leave and not stay to wait for the appointment. So I can understand the radiology staff at the front desk not being overly concerned that he didn't have his x-ray taken.
There's the hygiene issue that is the most surprising -- would no cleaning staff have entered the washroom in 36 hours, in a hospital???
Poor guy. What a way to go.
I hope the hospital is revisiting their policies...
********************************************************************
Villeneuve-Saint-Georges : mort et oublié dans les toilettes de l’hôpital
Jean-Marcel, 56 ans, victime d’un malaise dans les WC de l’hôpital de Villeneuve-Saint-Georges, a été retrouvé 36 heures après son décès. « Insupportable », dénonce sa sœur.
http://www.leparisien.fr/faits-divers/villeneuve-saint-georges-mort-et-oublie-dans-les-toilettes-de-l-hopital-15-01-2013-2482697.phpThursday, January 17, 2013
Medical Communication
We spent our lab today discussing the role of communication and various strategies to effectively use communication in the medical field. I happen to have a Master of Arts degree in communication, and spent my first career in communication, so today's lab was not the most informative to me.
That's not to say that I'm the expert and know everything there is to comms. I'd never say something like that. I'm always learning.
So even though today's lab wasn't exactly new to me, it did get me thinking about the differences in communication styles and uses. Medical communication is different from my experience in governmental and diplomatic communication. It will depend on the type of nursing I eventually end up doing, and the comms skills will be very different depending on the situation. In trauma/emerg, you'd be most interested in getting the basic, key bits of information that are critical to the patient's condition. While working as a nurse in an area where a longer-term relationship is forged with the patient, the communications approach would be very different.
The key point to remember, I concluded, whether working as a nurse or a diplomat, is to be an effective communicator, one must always be ready for any situation, be able to think on one's feet (think quickly!) and to "trust the gut" -- trust yourself that you are able to handle the situation presented to you, and in your abilities to ask the right questions, the right way and to project the appropriate body language.
Effective communication comes from experience...and that I have loads of! Effective communication skills will definitely be a key "transferable" skill that I will bring to my nursing career, from my first career.
That's not to say that I'm the expert and know everything there is to comms. I'd never say something like that. I'm always learning.
So even though today's lab wasn't exactly new to me, it did get me thinking about the differences in communication styles and uses. Medical communication is different from my experience in governmental and diplomatic communication. It will depend on the type of nursing I eventually end up doing, and the comms skills will be very different depending on the situation. In trauma/emerg, you'd be most interested in getting the basic, key bits of information that are critical to the patient's condition. While working as a nurse in an area where a longer-term relationship is forged with the patient, the communications approach would be very different.
The key point to remember, I concluded, whether working as a nurse or a diplomat, is to be an effective communicator, one must always be ready for any situation, be able to think on one's feet (think quickly!) and to "trust the gut" -- trust yourself that you are able to handle the situation presented to you, and in your abilities to ask the right questions, the right way and to project the appropriate body language.
Effective communication comes from experience...and that I have loads of! Effective communication skills will definitely be a key "transferable" skill that I will bring to my nursing career, from my first career.
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