Notes from a Nursing Student

This Friday on the PCU, my original patient was discharged before I got up to the floor. (It is very common on the PCU floor and I guess that is a good thing!) I was able to take care of a patient that had kidney disease and was on dialysis. This patient also had a catheterization to put stents into the heart. Upon assessment of the patient's pulses, I felt a really strong pulse coming from the right arm that was very different from the left arm (you assess pulses on both extremities for similarities and they should have the same rhythm). When I was assessing the radial pulse (on the lower part of the arm) it was beating so fast and strong. It was like electrical I kept saying. I went to the nurse and told her about it and she said that that patient might just have a really strong pulse. Finally when I was charting on the computers I saw that the patient was positive for a bruit and positive for a thrill. A bruit is a sound you hear using the bell (smaller side) of the stethoscope and you will hear a "shh" sound and a thrill is what you palpate. The reason this patient had this was because of the AV (arteriovenous) fistula (used for his hemodialysis). What I was hearing and feeling was the blood from the arteries going into the veins. It was AWESOME. I have never felt anything like it before. It was the highlight of my night.

Also, this Monday I had clinical at a special needs school. A group of 6 nursing students were able to assist special needs teachers for the day. I was able to help out with the middle school aged children. The classroom I was in had about 6 children, all who have different needs. Many were autistic and the child that I followed throughout the day had seizures. This clinical was definitely worthwhile.

As for my pharmacology and med- surg test I did well. Thank you for all the prayers and encouragement! It means so much to me!

My first Pharmacology test is this coming Thursday. It will be on Antibiotics. I've been studying all weekend. I never knew there were so many different drugs, it is amazing! Yesterday I went to a study group for pharm and one of the Seniors in the program hosted it at her apt. It was such a blessing and SO helpful! Here are just a few of my notecards.

This past Tuesday night, we had our annual ATI meeting. ATI helps nursing students prepare for the boards. Sophomore year students get one book. This year we got 4! One for Med-Surg, PEDS, OB, and Pharm. These ATI books are like the cliff notes to our text books. They are very helpful to glance out and get a simplified explanation. At the end of the semester we will be taking our ATI test for PEDS and the rest of the test throughout the year.
Tonight I have clinicals again. There is nothing better than spending my Friday nights at the hospital! I got to meet my patient yesterday when I picked up my patient information. He was pleasant and I'm looking forward to taking care of him today. .. Usually when I go to pick up my patient information I feel stressed, but I have really felt at peace lately. I know that God is supplying my strength and peace and I am so grateful. I will try to post more about what a profile entails or maybe post one of my old ones. Profiles usually take up my Thursday nights or even past 12 am Friday, but last night I was able to finish and be in bed before 12am. It was a good night! I'm looking forward to tonight!

Missing the fam.