July 2010

Well it seems like every week or so we tackle a major milestone in this accelerated program… since my last report we’ve surpassed 5:

1. Pharmacology is over. It’s been a long road and the culprit of many hours of studying at odd times of the day.  We’re freeeeee!

The Cinco de mayo (Dylan, Joe Q, Me, Colin, JJ) under the award winning tree on campus… all smiles after finishing pharm!

2. Foundations of Nursing is over. It seems like just yesterday we started that class. I can hardly believe it’s already over! It’s also hard to believe how much info and skills we can learn in just 5 weeks.

3.Our first clinical rotation has come and gone. We spent 16 hours at our sites in groups of 5-6 students. While I’m not convinced that geriatrics is the specialty where I’d like to work in the future, I really enjoyed my time at the assisted living home. I had a lot of “firsts” here. First time wearing a pair of scrubs, first time giving a shot (insulin), first time bathing someone else, and first time helping someone over the age of 3 go to the bathroom. Believe it or not…all the experiences were enjoyable because they help to build our knowledge and skill base in order to provide the best care possible for patients in the future.

JJ, Bethany (clinical instructor), Amanda, Kelly, Katelyn, Leah and I after our last clinical.

4. We started two classes, Evidence Based Practice and Care for the Adult/Older Adult 1. These are guaranteed to be very challenging classes, but it’s exciting to dig deeper and learn more about the body, and the nurses role in caring for it.

5. I got to spend an entire day with Kate…without studying. I mean I didn’t even look at a book, much less open one! We started the day at an awesome breakfast spot in Denver called Snooze, then headed to Garden of the Gods outside Colorado Springs. This is a beautiful place with some incredible rock formations towering out of the ground… endless hiking, climbing, camping and scenery around the area make it a true Colorado getaway. On the way home we swung by the US Air Force Academy to check it… it is an awesome campus. We bbq’d a great dinner, hung out in the backyard and watched the day end. 

Garden of the Gods

Kate’s parents made a last minute trip over the 4th of July weekend, perhaps in an effort to dodge the relentless rain of the NW. We enjoyed some sightseeing and fun dinners with them. If you want the name of the best restaurant in Denver, just ask!

Me, Debbie, Kate, Bob

Continuing to enjoy my experience at Regis and thankful that this is where I ended up. If anyone has any questions or comments, just click that button at the bottom of this post, I’m happy to help!

Read Full Post »

One more class down! We just finished Professional Nursing Role Development 1 on Tuesday.  This class dealt with history of nursing, theory, service learning, social justice, and was a place where everyone could get to know each other and learn more about the profession. I think I can speak for the class and say the instructor we had was great…I’m hoping she’ll teach more classes over the next 10 months.

While school is going 100 miles an hour with Pharmacology and Foundation tests, labs, and case studies, I’m still trying to find time to enjoy the gorgeous Denver summer!

Kate and I went to an awesome Rockies game with some friends from school. 

JJ, Colin and me at the game

We’ve been on some fun bike rides around the area… 

 

Of course we bring Petey with us

We also went to Film on the Rocks. This only enhances my observation that people from CO turn everything into an event. Red Rocks is a very well –known amphitheater about 20 minutes west, at the base of the mountains. A $10 tickets gets you, and about 8,000 other people into the amphitheater to listen to an opening band, a comedian, then watch Ferris Bueller’s Day Off on an enormous screen.  This is, of course after people have spent the afternoon tailgating, bbq’ing and enjoying the sunshine! 

 

Film on The Rocks

In Foundations of Nursing we’re continuing to learn some hands-on skills in lab. Starting IV’s, administering medications, taking vitals, safely moving and transporting patients, and foley catheters are on the horizon!   

 

Impressively, April can take a pulse and temp at the same time

Our class will be starting clinicals for Foundations this week. We’ll finally don our scrubs and stethoscopes for the first time at various assisted living homes around Denver. It’s very exciting to be integrating what we’ve been learning into the workplace.  

4^th of July and clinical reports coming soon!

Read Full Post »