Time Flies......

It's been quite a while since I updated this blog. Life caught up with me there for a while, but I'll try to get back on track. If there's something you'd like to see written about or answered here, feel free to drop me a line.

Random advice

- Learn your nursing math *with* all of the units written in everywhere. If your math skills aren't strong, this is doubly important, but even if your idea of difficult math begins at the calculus level and you think dosage conversions are a piece of cake, sooner or later, you _will_ get a teacher who insists on the notation. Better to be in the habit.

- Working full time while you're also doing clinical rotations is tough. You will probably either be working a full shift 7 days a week or doing your own job 5 days a week and then doing a full clinical shift on top of that twice a week. Do what you need to do to prepare yourself mentally and physically. Learn to love exhaustion. :)

-Before you start clinical rotations, talk to your instructor about what sorts of things will vary in real life from your classroom learning. Try to ask about which things you should worry about and which things are just a matter of perhaps being done in a different way.

- Get a good set of nursing drug cards. A really good set. You will probably need to make your own drug cards at some point, so know how to use the ones you've purchased. Notice what's important to include when you make your own.

- Buy retractable pens. Keeps accidental ink marks off your scrubs and hands. Also keeps you from stabbing yourself on a pen point - sounds silly, but it will happen......

.

How Do I Dislike Google? Let Me Count The Ways......

So, I decided to start a blog. Two actually. I'm a homeschooling mom putting herself through nursing school, so I thought I'd write about both, each on their own page. Share a little useful information, some common experiences, etc. Great. All is good.

Since each blog was on a specific topic and, let's face it, a homeschooling mom putting herself through school can use every nickel she can earn, I decided to add Google's AdSense program. No biggie - each blog has a certain audience, so the ads should be things they might really be interested in - nursing school info on the nursing blog, homeschool resource links on the homeschool blog.

But hey, did you know that Google can, with absolutely no explanation, yank all of your ads AND keep all of the money you've earned so far? Whoo, talk about fun....... They claim privacy issues and refuse to provide even a hint of what the problem is/was, yet expect bloggers to be able to defend themselves somehow? If you don't tell me what you think the problem is, I can't possibly make any sort of explanation!

[Yes, I looked through the Help pages they referred me to and still don't know what the problem was. I didn't click on my own pages, I didn't pay for clicks, I didn't imply that clicks would get anyone entered in a drawing, etc.....]

So, I thought I had part of the heat bill paid this month. With all of the ice and snow, that was a good thing. Now, it's all gone. Up in a puff of smoke.

Thanks Google. Maybe someday Larry and Sergei will find out what it feels like to be treated this way. It won't come from me, but I hope someone's there to help pay their heat bills when it happens......

-

Handwashing vs alcohol hand sanitizers

OK, ok, ok, I know. You've had it beaten into your head since day one. Handwashing! Some days, I think I'll scream if that is the answer to one more question....... And now we're seeing those alcohol-based hand sanitizers everywhere as well.

A few fun facts:

Many places are using hand sanitizer because nurses aren't in compliance with handwashing directives. What does that mean? It means that too many nurses are either making bad hygiene decisions or are too rushed off their feet. Poor hygiene by choice in a client-contact situation isn't defendable, but we can fix that one ourselves. There are students in the pipeline who will hopefully relieve a little of the nursing shortage, but I don't see understaffing problems going away any time soon......

The National Fire Protection Association bans these hand-sanitizer dispensers from being hung in hallways that lead to exits. The darn things are flammable thanks to all that alcohol.

Oh, and the alcohol itself...... apparently it's just one more thing for addicts to try to steal! With a 70% alcohol content, I guess it appeals to some drinkers, but wow, does it seem like a dangerous way to go. I don't know how widespread this problem is - do any of you have stories from your workplaces on this?

Here's a better story - the successful use of an anti-microbial hand sanitizer (non-alcohol-based) in the treatment of multiple-drug resistant bacteria on a paraplegic gentleman with stage IV decubitous ulcers
http://www.orthosupersite.com/view.asp?rID=33734

If you're using an alcohol-based sanitizer, keep rubbing your hands until it is dry instead of spreading the stuff onto your hands and letting it dry without rubbing.

If your employer can be persuaded to use a sanitizer with an emollient in it, it's very likely that your hands will thank you for it. The frequency of washing or applying alcohol to our skin at work can make it very drying, to say the least......


And a few articles:

Soap and Water Washing Beats Alcohol Rubs, Antiseptic Wipes for Removing C Difficile


Hand Washing: An Easy Way to Prevent Infection (Mayo Clinic, geared more towards the public, but useful)

Alcohol Rubs vs Antiseptic Soap to Reduce Contamination (AFP)

Take care!

Hi ho, hi ho.....

And it's off to work we go! Our class is just about to start our first clinical rotation! Some of us are excited, some terrified..... and most of us are some combination of the two. How could we not be? We are *finally* getting some hands-on, practical experience with real clients. The flip side of that is that it's hands-on, practical experience with real clients. LOL.

I think I'm going to head off to allnurses.com to read the forums on nursing school bloopers and stories...... Aren't medical folks always the ones with the best stories at parties? I'd love to hear yours. :)

Another Way to Look at Your Math

People, including nursing students, vary in their learning style. For that reason, I'm adding this to my list of math-study resources. This site says that its methods work well for people who have trouble memorizing things and it really does look useful for that.....

http://www.dalesplace.net/introduc.php

Good luck!

Mnemonics - Flu

The FACTS tell you when it's the flu, not just a cold:

Fever spike
Aches
Chills
Tiredness
Sudden symptoms