Competency Day Miscellany
Today is my first-semester competency test
What's a competency test?
Well, I have to go into the lab at school and have a professor watch me do a bunch of tasks on a manikin.
(That IS how you spell the name of a medical mannequin!)
I'm gonna :
- do a head-to-toe assessment, which includes skin, heart, lungs, and much more
- give a g-tube med
- give an injection med
- deliver oxygen via one of a variety of methods
- set up a sterile field/put on sterile gloves
- put on and take of PPE in the correct order
- do a full set of vital signs
This is a lot of stuff to do, but mercifully, if we mess something up, we do get a second and third chance to come back and correct the error on another day.
AND when we get called back, we only have to do the skills we needed to improve; we don't have to do everything all over again.
But, of course, I will do my best to get everything down my first time. The less I have to come back for, the better.
I have gone to lots of open labs to practice, I've helped other classmates learn their skills (teaching others helps me learn!), and I've gone over all the procedures lots of times.
But, it's my first time doing competency testing, and usually, 50% of students end up getting called back for a 2nd chance try on something. Soooo, I know it's quite possible I will be in the 50%.
Stay tuned!
I am still wanting to do Meet a Reader posts
They've been missing because I don't have any submissions in my inbox, but I'm definitely still open to featuring more readers!
If you want to participate, just send me an email (thefrugalgirl@gmail.com).
And if you emailed me and I missed it, let me know in the comments, or send me a fresh email. Sometimes I get very behind on emails and things get lost, and that is particularly true now that I'm in nursing school.
So, feel free to bug me!
Nursing/Medical podcasts
A fellow back-in-school adult reader was asking what I listen to as I study for nursing school.
My main fundamentals textbook does have an audio version, and I listen to that instead of reading the chapters. It's a terrible computer voice, but I can play it at 2x and listen while I'm doing other things like laundry, cleaning, and cooking.
Aside from that, I also listen to the Dr. Matt and Dr. Mike podcast. They're both A&P (anatomy and physiology) instructors in Australia, and I've been listening to their podcast for years.
It helped a lot when I was in A&P, and now I mostly listen to it to keep getting refreshers about A&P content.
They've also got a lot of YouTube content, but I mainly listen to the podcast.
I've also added Straight A Nursing to my podcast queue. I've gone back and searched for specific topics that we're covering in nursing school, and I also listen to new episodes as they come out.
My attitude about medical podcasts is that even if I don't need that particular bit of knowledge at that particular point in time, it's still useful to listen to the episodes. They might refresh my memory about a subject or concept, and they might help me get a head start on something I need for the future.
Of course, I do my assigned homework first since that's specific to my course and then I add the podcasts in when I have more listening time.
Sometimes a visual resource is best for learning nursing concepts, and on YouTube, I like the Dr. Matt and Dr. Mike videos, and I also sometimes watch Ninja Nerd on specific topics.
Simple Nursing with Nurse Mike is helpful, and if you don't mind a strong southern accent, Registered Nurse RN is good (her accent is polarizing among nursing students, I'm finding!)
I did something super dumb this morning
I ordered a new computer mouse since mine is having issues.
And when I went to open the package, I cut right through the cable, rendering the brand-new mouse completely useless.
AUGH.
The package design is a little confusing; before I cut it open, I did take a look to see where it looked like the cable was, and I thought I was avoiding it when I decided where to cut!
I looked at the reviews, and I found at least one person who had done the same thing, so that made me feel a little less mad at myself.
I'm having a similar feeling as I did when I cracked my whole stovetop, but hey, at least a computer mouse is significantly less expensive than a whole stove.
When my next one arrives, I am going to be very very careful how I cut the package open.
And now I'm gonna try to shake off the mistake so I can prep for my competency tests with a good attitude instead of an, "I'm so stupid!" attitude. 😉
Wanna share some Monday miscellany with me?
Share some random stuff in the comments! And if you have ever ruined something by opening a package wrong, please tell me so that I feel a little better!
My credit card has coverage for new items that BREAK or are ost or stolen in the first 30 days.. you might be able to get a refund and buy a new one! We bought a lamp for over the dining table and my husband dropped it during install and it shattered. Since I had purchased it with my credit card,I was able to submit a receipt and get credit to the card for the price.We bought a new one while waiting for the refund but it was applied promptly. I called the 800 nube ron back of my card to ask howt o do the refund.Good luck!
Did my mouse break? Or DID I DESTROY IT WITH MY CARELESSNESS? lol
If I get a minute, I will check and see if my credit card covers accidental destruction upon opening!
@Madeline, I second this! My son got hit on his bike at MSU, he was fine but the bike wasn't. The person he collided with did not offer to pay (brand new bike too) but our credit card would cover the replacement. When we went back to get a replacement at Walmart we explained the accident & that had also received a Sam's Club scholarship and the manager gave him the bike for free after we returned the damaged bike. He helped him due to being a college student.
@Mar, SO SURPRISED, UNLESS POLICE WROTE OTHER DRIVER TICKET (WHICH SHOULD HAVE AS IN MICHIGAN WE HAVE VERY STRICK MOTORCYCLE/BICYCLE LAWS). Or at least the other drivers insurance should have covered new bike for your son. Glad he is ok, as those accidents are just as bad & dangerous as auto accidents.
@Kristen, you should still report it to the seller. While you consider it user error, I think it is a design flaw. If enough people report, maybe they will fix their packaging!
I feel like my entire world is miscellany right now! Didn't take my planner to work these last three days because I want to focus on the here and now instead of obsessively planning my week out (my brain needed that break). Got a new ironing board cover which I am weirdly excited about - mainly because the ironing board resides in my craft room/office which I am refreshing. (sometimes the smallest things, right?) And lastly, its raining here which gets me out of mowing until at least Friday when my yards will be somewhat dried out.
Side note: I don't ever think I've had a computer mouse that wasn't wireless, except at work. But I have opened plenty of boxes in my time and done a similar thing. Ooooops. When I do that, I remind myself that I will catch myself doing something right or nearly right in the future and give myself hearty praise. Happy Week!
@Gina from The Cannary Family, I am totally with you about the small things, especially if there are big not-good things going on. I get a bit of joy every morning and every evening when I open my bathroom drawer to see it perfectly organized with just the right organizing containers.
Yup done that. Cut into a fanny pack in a shipping bag. Now I shake the stuff down in bags before I cut the top.
Ooh, so sorry this happened to you too! Thank you for making me feel better. 🙂
@Kristen, you are SOOOO not alone. I cut through a brand new shirt that was still in the shipping bag.
Good luck on your competency tests. I know you will do well. You’ve definitely got this!
*The Blue Angels were nearby this past weekend providing lots of entertainment.
*The weather has been near perfect.
*I am in search of a small bookcase or shelving unit —less than 30” wide. This is proving to be difficult.
*I’m going to paint my family room and kitchen this week.
Oooh, what color of paint did you choose?
@Bee, take a look at Walmart. They sell a cube style shelving unit that works either vertically or horizontally, dimensions roughly 24x36, 12” deep. Price was under $40 when I got mine.
@Pauline in Upstate NY, Target has similar things as well.
@Kristen, Benjamin Moore’s Stonington Gray. It’s one of their historical colors.
@Pauline in Upstate NY, I haven’t thought about these. I have one it the closet!!!!! Oh my, maybe I can use what I have. That would be wonderful.
Went scrapbooking this weekend and instead of working on my current scrapbook, I took my laptop and phone and just sat and moved pictures from my phone to my laptop. Next item is to move the files to an external drive so my computer hard drive isn't too crowded. I know there are simpler ways to do it, but this one works for me. I just need the time to sit there and do it because Apple does not make it easy when you have a non-Apple laptop!
@Maureen, try Picture Keeper. Its a USB (specifically for photos/videos) that you put USB in phone , open app & it automatically downloads ones you have not done yet. *downside---originals not date/time stamped when taken/date of download. So unless you do daily (definately better than me) original dates will not be on photo. The you can take USB to photo place to download for pictures. I have more than one USB as I have not gotten much done on scrapbooking also.
@Regina, unfortunately, Apple did something to their program so it is not compatible with a USB port -- I have one and it scrambled the pictures when I went to download them to the USB to upload to my computer. My daughter said that Apple does not like to play with other computers and I agree. But I found that if I download them directly thru the phone to the computer, they are fine. So that's what I did. And it was fine. And I got to chat with some scrapbooking friends.
I got a chuckle out of the picture of your competency checklist, mainly because of the word "scenario". Thanks to our watching that old 80's sitcom, The Greatest American Hero, "scenario" has become a catchphrase in our family, so the very word just is funny to me now. Here's hoping you get an easy scenario and the test goes well!
Today I am having coffee at the home of a friend whose schedule often conflicts with mine so this is a rare treat. Then I'll stop at Hobby Lobby on the way home to pick up two gifts using a gift card. After lunch is a zoom call with my sisters and a cousin. We live in three different states and in the past few years have not gotten together very often so this is another treat. I love video conferencing because we can see each other's facial expressions. The last thing today is a doctor visit - fall allergies have hit.
I hope you tell the assessor that the patient appears to be dead.
Haha, well, our manikins actually are pretty high tech. They have blood pressures, pulses, lung sounds, heart sounds, respirations, they blink their eyes, and more! Their vital sounds can all be changed to various settings, so we don't know what the readings will be.
For instance, for blood pressure, we have to get both numbers within 4 digits of the actual programmed numbers, so we do have to be precise.
The manikins even have systems that allow us to administer g-tube meds.
Lemme tell you, the first time you're in lab and a manikin starts to blink, it is very startling!
THE MACHINES ARE RISING! /terminator whichever
I scored, for free, two vintage painted chippy doors from town beach cabanas from the 1950s. There's two of them and I am going to make them into a screen in the cottage. I'll add feet to make them sturdy.
@Rose, My GP would take phone calls during appointments, presumably emergencies only when he was on call. During one visit, he was asking the person on the other end for vital signs, and kept repeating, "No, those numbers do not support life."
Took me a few moments to figure out what he meant-- either the patient was dead, or the measurements were wrong. Hope it was the second. Hope I never encounter whoever was doing the reporting.
@Kristen, Blinking would be quite a jolt!
Hope the patients are mute. That would be quite a jolt as well.
Well, funny enough, when we do competency, the instructors act as the voice of the patient. So, we inquire about name and DOB, allergies, pain levels, ask permission to uncover the patient, etc.
@Heidi Louise, hahahaha!
My mother always said my dad should have been studied by medical science, since he had a ridiculously healthy constitution. The doctor's office called once and hesitantly asked for him. Mom said, "Sure, he's in the back watching TV; I'll go get him." Turned out whatever anemia number he had, he should have been in a coma at the very least and dead at the most.
I can't recall a time I ruined the thing I was opening, but I have the vague "been there, done that" feeling. BUT I always open packages that are meant to be resealable wrong so that they will never seal again.
1. This is my last week on my current rotation, and I have very little work to do. Hurray! I can use the time to study and catch up on other tasks that I've been putting off.
2. I feel like I'm starting to get a sense of how to entertain more easily. What sets of dishes go well together and can be prepped in advance, how to not over-complicate things, etc.
3. I made a frugal fail last night. I opted to take the train home from a friends house, bought a ticket, and then stood on the wrong platform and watched the train go by....then I had to get an Uber home because that was the last train. Bummer!
4. I've never been to a stadium concert and wanted to see Taylor Swift...but not for several hundreds of dollars. Instead, some friends and I are going to the movie in a few weeks.
5. The most foundational conversation I've ever had about money was with some friends when I was maybe 20 and they were 24. We were talking about how much we wanted to earn eventually, and I said, "I just want enough that I don't have to worry about money." One friend said, "Well, how much is that?" The other friend said, "More." It was a throwaway comment, but it stuck with me!
@Meira @ meirathebear, Stadium concerts are terrible, actually, the band looks like ants on stage. So you're not missing much.
I cracked my phone this morning, so I feel your pain.
Ohhh nooooo! So sorry to hear that.
@Annie, I also broke my phone this morning. I’ve had it almost 4 years and somehow it slipped out of my fingers just right and shattered the back of the phone. Luckily the case is keeping it together but I have a feeling I’ll be getting a new phone soon. #facepalm
Yep, I have cut a thing or two upon opening it, and I've seen numerous boxes such as cereal at the grocery store that got cut when opening the carton. Here's a thought re: the mouse - how about they package those mice in something a little less bomb-proof and a little more obvious as to where to cut for opening? I don't call this your fault, Kristen. I hate those stiff plastic packages. I've sliced a finger open on the cut edges of one before.
Good luck on your competency test!
Hey, what's wrong with a strong southern accent? I live surrounded by it, and have definitely picked up a stronger accent here in North Florida, although I had a southern accent already when I moved here and had grown up being teased about it by my northern relatives.
Miscellany: I'm still trying to adjust to the loss of so many trees around my and my neighbors' properties. It doesn't look right. The amount of light isn't right. The sound of the road is louder and travels farther. The lights on at night at my neighbors' houses, even though we are a good distance apart here in the country, shine all the way to my house, and I know my lights do the same to theirs. When I met a farmer yesterday to pick up an order, we talked about trees - she lives surrounded by woods - and she said sadly that the thing that gets her is that we can plant new trees to replace missing trees, but we will not see the trees around us as they used to be, in our lifetime.
@JD, While talking my college boy on the phone this weekend, I told him that he's starting to have a little bit of Minnesota in his voice. He asked what was wrong with that since my WV comes out when I'm talking to somebody from home.
@Jody S., My father felt that his heavy accent impacted how he was seen at work, so when I was about 10, he sent me to a tutor to make sure that my English was not accented. My husband says he can tell when I am upset because suddenly my syntax and pronunciation change---I don't end up sounding like a cast member of Fiddler on the Roof, but close.
We're just back from a weekend trip to Williamsburg. It was a cheap trip since we drove, we stayed at the Doubletree using a Hilton Grand Vacations (HGV) offer (less than $200 for three nights), and we earned a bunch of Hilton Honors points for attending a high pressure sales presentation by HGV (we didn't buy any of their "amazing" offers). We were pleasantly surprised to find there are an additional ten miles of E-ZPass Express lanes on I-95 in VA and they were open in the direction we were traveling both going and returning (they are lanes that are used sometimes for south bound traffic and sometimes for north bound traffic, not dedicated to one direction). The Express lanes saved a lot of time on Friday and I do not like the travel part of travel so it was worth every dollar.
@K D, I have tried to convince my husband to attend a Hilton Honors presentation but he never wants to go. Can't blame him although the lure of cheap lodging is hard for me to resist!
Why is a southern accent polarizing ? That accent is fairly bland compared to the accents around me here, and I'm only in Virginia. Those nursing students should be prepared to hear all kinds of accents, both foreign and domestic, and care for people of all stripes. I'm sure they are learning that.
You'll do great on those tests because you've been practicing so much ! Then they will become second nature and allow you to focus on the other needs of each patient you work with. Thanks for sharing your educational steps with us; it has been fun for me to remember all the excitement of learning those skills.
Melissa
I don't know why it's so polarizing. Some people just do not enjoy learning nursing concepts delivered in a southern accent.
It doesn't bother me! I mean, I've been listening to the Dr. Matt and Dr. Mike show for years, and they both have Australian accents.
I'm more invested in whether the information is being delivered in a helpful way.
@Kristen, I enjoy hearing other accents, although there are some that I enjoy more than others.
Did you consider contacting the company, telling them what happened and - if they don't offer you a new one - say you think their packing was part of the problem, and try to get a complementary replacement?
My miscellany this week is an illustration of how Life Happens, and sometimes it happens all at once.
A) Planned expenses: I spent a chunk of money on framing, fixing frames, and having a statement mirror made. These are, strictly speaking, unnecessary expenses related to moving.
B) Potential expenses: my roommate has been ill, then broke a bone in his hand, so we haven't been able to get the TVs set up (cable, TiVo, ethernet, communication between systems, etc.). So I asked some companies for estimates to do the work for us. The first company's estimate was $5000! To give you an idea of how wrong they are for me, instead of the simple sound bar I asked for, they priced a fancy Sonos surround system.
C) Unplanned Life Happens expense 1: gas stove. After some prodding, the stove repair guy finally found the gas leak he missed the first time around. To be fair, it was subtle, but he should have believed us the first time. Their repair estimate was $2900! Time for a new stove, folks.
D) Unplanned Life Happens expense 2: major car repair. My 13 year old, 140K mileage manual Corolla stopped working. Early indications are it's the transmission: there was smoke, and stink, and the gears felt like oatmeal and wouldn't "stay." No estimate yet but if it is the transmission, our friend The Internet indicates a likely cost of $2-5000.
E) Unplanned Life Happens expense 3: roof work. Looking out a window I saw a missing shingle, a couple of displaced shingles, and there's a bit of water damage under the window sill. I'm grateful that I know the right company to call and fingers crossed that there's only small bits to be repaired.
The moral of my week: keep funding the Life Happens fund because Life may Happen all at once.
I was actually just doing my PT exercises and pondering that option. I read more reviews and found even more people who have cut their cords while opening the package. This seems like a mildly common problem because of the packaging, and the manufacturer does need to know.
@WilliamB,
Holy cow, what a series of mishaps! I don't know if I should even ask, but how's your water heater doing these days?
@JD, Not William, but mine's fine! The furnace is, however, leaking. FACEPALM
@WilliamB, I'm sorry about all the Unplanned Life Happens expenses. And I hope that your roommate feels better soon.
@WilliamB, Mildly good news, folks: it's the clutch disc not the transmission, so the price range is half of what it might be. Frugal thing: I told the garage that, since they had the clutch system & transmission open, they should check anything else they now have access to. The time to get those fixed is when I'm already paying for the labor.
@WilliamB, regarding D, we have to baby our manual transmissions along because they are so hard to find these days. This morning I had to double-clutch to get into Reverse—a warning, perhaps? '96 Honda Accord, 248,000 miles. Irreplaceable!
@Central Calif. Artist Jana, Tell me, please, how does double-clutching help you baby your Accord? I've never had to do it.
Gang, the shoes that Kristen referred to awhile back are on sale for $70 on Amazon! Just one color and it doesn't ship until December 6. Only the gray/orange. In case you are interested
https://www.amazon.com/ALTRA-Womens-AL0A7R7O-Provision-Running/dp/B09Y2D7D7P?crid=3QML1X3V3I5O1&keywords=altra%2Bprovision%2Bwomens&qid=1696729241&sprefix=altra%2Bprovision%2Bwomens%2B%2Caps%2C113&sr=8-1&th=1&linkCode=sl1&tag=thefrugir-20&linkId=f12e10bfd80258f89a8b1bdc91eb93aa&language=en_US&ref_=as_li_ss_tl&psc=1
OH MAN. Now I wish I hadn't bought the ones direct from Altra! Thanks for sharing; I'll share on Facebook too!
@PBE
My size 8 the light blue was the only 69.99 option
@Kristen, maybe buy these too and hide them in your closet for a later date! I was a little disappointed they're not coming until December.
Oh, Nurse Kristen! You look like a real pro in your photo. I'm sure the evaluator will be very impressed with your appearance and your competencies. I'm guessing you score 100%. And you finding all those podcasts and extra materials, from all over the world, to listen to and study with -- well, that's pure genius. You've got this, lady!
I've messed up on opening packaging many, many times, so don't feel alone. Two weeks ago, some rose stalks I'd ordered online were delivered. I ripped open the box they came in...and was looking at the bottom of their flower pots. I'd opened it upside down. We got those roses in the ground, and it doesn't seem to have hurt them although my negligence may have. Too sick to go outside and water them every day.
Sunday a week ago, I came home from my PT drugstore cashier job with a sore throat that quickly morphed into....???....a bad cold/flu/Covid/whatever crud is going around. An upper respiratory whatever that is on top of my bad cough that comes from my chest area. Called my doctor's office and the receptionist said they won't see me in person and can't schedule a video chat for 2 weeks. Not owning a cell phone or the right kind of computer, I am unable to video chat and therefore asked for a phone call. No can do, she said. I told her that in 2 weeks I'll either be well or dead. Like she cares. She doesn't! Well, yesterday was the one-week mark and I still have fever and have had to stay home. (No workee, no payee). I feel like marching into the clinic and breathing on that receptionist!
@Fru-gal Lisa,
Very sorry to hear of your bad health adventures! I hope you heal soon!
(I also don't have a cell phone. Can't get PayPal or use other services that require texting a code for verification).
@Fru-gal Lisa, receptionist jobs are underpaid and underrated. Those folks are the gatekeepers, the Executive-In-Charge-Of-First-Impressions. But offices hire anyone with a pulse, without regard to personality or manners. The receptionist is usually treated as the least important person and paid the lowest. So stupid of a business to do things this way!
I had to go listen to a few minutes of the nurse with the "strong southern accent". 😉 I live in South Carolina, and I would say her accent is mild. 😀 I myself do not have a southern accent, having grown up on the west coast and then lived in the midwest for 12 years, only moving here 7 years ago.
So, her oldest videos have a strong southern accent (she's been making videos since, like, 2014!), and I kind of wonder if she is making a concerted effort to tone down the accent. If that's the case, that makes me a little bit sad for her, and I wonder if people have been unkind to her about it.
She's got over 2 million subscribers, so I know with that many people watching her videos, there's gonna be some unkind people mixed in.
@Kristen, I share your feelings. In fact, I hereby declare the whole practice of judging people by their accents to be RUDE.
It's been interesting to watch people reacting to my own accent over the course of my life. I'm a native of SE TN, but even as a child, I had unusually rapid/clipped speech (chalk it up to a fast internal metronome). This occasionally had people asking suspiciously, "You ain't from around here, ain'tcha?" But I've never made any conscious effort to get rid of my Southernisms, either ("y'all" for second-person plural, dropped g's on "-ing" words, etc.). So these have gotten me some funny looks during my adulthood in Yankeeland.
A funny thing is that even though I have lived here my entire life, often when I meet new people, they ask me where I'm from. Apparently I have a bit of a Midwest accent, which makes sense because both of my parents are from the midwest.
I enjoy the Australian accents of Dr. Matt and Dr. Mike, but I have to admit that sometimes I can't play the podcasts at my usual 2x speed; the combo of anatomy plus an accent I'm not used to makes things hard to understand at 2x! So I slow down to 1.5 for them, usually.
@A. Marie, the beauty of a Southern accent is it is easy to understand since we tend to speak more slowly than others! Maybe that is what is difficult for people? Lifelong Southerner here, my accent isn't as strong as many in my extended family, and I have either been made fun of (in Wisconsin) or asked if I was from New York state, so I obviously have some accent issues. 🙂
One entertaining thing is that YouTube's automatic closed captions do not understand a southern accent. So when you turned on closed captions on Nurse Sarah's videos, sometimes the words that come up are hilariously wrong!
I recently watched an Australian horror movie where everyone. talked. so. slowly. it drove me up the wall. In New York, we talk quickly. Thank goodness with VLC I can speed it all up.
@Jan G, I lived in lower Michigan my whole life (50+ years) & recently read article from somewhere in Michigan that stated that Michigan now has 2 different kind of accents within the state. Apparently younger generation has slightly different accent compared to older generations. Some kind of study was done & determined this.
Honestly, not traveling much outside of Michigan I don't hear anyone say anything about any accents. When we traveled to Florida (more than few years ago) for 2 weeks I only noticed Latino accents while there, otherwise all sounded same to me. But what do I know.
@Regina, There used to be distinctive accents for the five boroughs of New York City. I would sometimes listen and note the differences between my father (Manhattan) and my mother (Queens). Sadly the Manhattan accent, as exemplified by my father's family, is probably gone forever now.
One thing that annoys me is when people refer to LI as "Lawn Guyland." That might have been humorous in the 80s but that's a long time ago, and I have met one (1) person in my life who actually talked that way. Besides, it's mocking the suburban Jewish accent so it doubly annoys me.
@A. Marie, due to the influence of television and Southern parents who insisted on proper, clear speech, my brother and I got that same accusation as children in northern Georgia in the early 1960s.
My Southern accent remains very light, but I can shift it to make other people more comfortable.
I cut through the antenna when I was trying to open a radio controlled car. Why do they make packaging so impossible? Sorry about your mouse.
I always top box upside down/bag shaked so product away from top & cut a small incision & slowly pull apart (may destroy package but not product). Seems I've had more than a few been there done that in my lifetime. Live & learn. 🙂
Mine lately has been when openi.g a bag (food) that I usually cut small slit & slide along top for opening. Well, instead of going along top it goes sideways or diagonally across the bag & QUICKLY opening bag completely & food falling out all over counter (& floor). Teen laughs as I'm UGHH-ing. Teen had experience other day that made pizza (I'm starving) & left some pizza in oven. Thought had put on low (teen cooks everything at 500 while I cook at 375-400) but had turned it all way past 500 instead. Thin crust pizza crisps up pretty quick! The black charred pizza smoking still after taken outside by garbage because smelled horrible. No pizza leftovers.
The package I mailed my aunt recently (We pack box full) I warned her that photos/pictures (in ziploc bag) on top/bottom to carefully cut from side not to damage pictures. Will see if she was successful later when she calls.
Good luck on your tests. Can't wait to hear about surprises the manikin throws at you.
Why don't you return to some former Meet the Reader guests and ask for an update? I'd be interested in hearing how they're doing.
@Jean, great idea!
Many times I have cut the tag out of clothes and cut too close! I'm a tag a phobic!! I bought a new cooking set and didn't notice the larger skillet in the very bottom of the box. We burned our trash in the country back then and guess what? My brother came in holding my melted skillet! I'll stop now but know you will probably get many stories on this one. Love ya!
Ohhhh, man! I would have been mad at myself over that! Thanks for sharing.
I really love it when you post about nursing school. I find it absolutely fascinating because it is a world I only know from the perspective of a patient. Thank you.
@Amanda in VA, Ditto.
Do you have to talk to the Manikin as well, explaining what you are going to do?
My miscellaneous note is finding out that mandarin orange/cuties slices can be frozen! Almost better than frozen grapes!
Yep! We have a whole long list of things we have to say, like, "I'll be inspecting the skin on your abdomen for wounds, incisions, rashes, redness, and color." and, "I'm inspecting your respirations for rate, rhythm, depth, effort, symmetry of movement, and thoracic shape and contour." and as we do various things, we have to narrate it all.
@Kristen, Sort of like airline pilots doing their pre-flight and emergency check lists.
I just had a DISH technician in my home this morning trying to unravel a problem with one of our joey's not functioning properly. For those of you that aren't familiar, a joey runs wirelessly off of the main cable box in your home. He spent hours trying to resolve and was in the middle of replacing the 'bad' unit when we discovered that we had disconnected the ethernet cable in the living room and that was the issue. Boy did I feel DUMB. We laughed about it and moved on which is most of the time the best you can do.
Miscellany. Hmmm. We've been fighting the sickness that never ends here. Luckily, it's mostly only annoying. But it is annoying.
This morning I was working with my son for school. He is so frustrated because he recognizes that he learns differently than the other kids. He recognizes that it is harder for him. I'm learning to listen to him about how he learns. He actually said (in a paraphrased and not actual quotation), "Mom, X publisher's books just don't work for me. I start to read it, and my eyes glaze over." Okay, son, I think I have a different logic program downstairs, thanks to Grandma. Let's look at that. And he thinks that will work for him. I hope so.
When I was a teacher in schools, I knew that everybody learns differently. Now I am experiencing that through my son, and it is soooo hard for him sometimes. He is so intelligent, but the educational system we have is just not set up for people like him. He would like to be a classical educator; he has a passion for that. But jumping through the hoops to get there will be so difficult for him! Sometimes my heart just breaks.
@Jody S., I don't have many regrets in my life (renting to that jackass, say), but one of them is not homeschooling my kids. I bought into the "socialization" canard.
@Rose, Actually, that's a line in my memoir. "I don't have many regrets in my life, besides watching "Giant Blackhead in Ear" on Youtube, but...."
@Rose, Early in our homeschooling journey, a member of our church said, “Jody, when I found out you were homeschooling, I didn’t really think it was a good idea, but now I am so glad you are because X (same son) would be crushed in a school setting.” And she was right. As difficult as it has been sometimes, he really has flourished. For what it is worth, he has no problem making friends.
@Rose, And once again, you teach me vocabulary. Thank you 🙂
I have to pay my tax bill today.
I updated my Christmas shopping and wrapping list. (I wrapped 11 gifts this weekend!)
I love making homemade soap! This past weekend, I made (and RUINED) several batches of milk and honey soap. I called it my "Eleanor" (movie reference from Gone in Sixty Seconds). I have made probably 50 batches of soap but for whatever reason, I can't get this one right! We all have days like that!
Good luck on your Competency Day!
Well, there was the time I was making chocolate fudge for Christmas boxes...I had the Kitchen Aid too close to the end of the counter. I turned away to do something and it walked itself off the counter. Not only did the mixer commit suicide, but on the way down it kept whipping the chocolate, only now the beater was no longer in a bowl but was depositing its contents on the wall and every appliance nearby. That was not the same year that I was leaning over the stove, again working with chocolate, and my shirt caught fire. I was only mildly scorched but the shirt was a loss and there was chocolate everywhere.
You seem so prepared for everything related to your nursing degree that it is hard for me to envision you failing any sort of test or task they throw at you!
I ripped my baby's birth certificate in two when I carelessly ripped open the envelope... and then I did the EXACT SAME THING for baby number two when his birth certificate was mailed to me after he was born. (Reader, I did not do the same thing for baby number three, thank goodness!)
@Kelly, What's the expression? "Third time's the charm!"
Just wondering—but I haven’t had a corded mouse in quite a few years. With how cheap some of the usb mice are, why not wireless? Do corded ones work better? (Not judging! Just curious!!)
@Reese, I wonder if this is a dumb Apple thing.
@Reese, my wireless mice have always stopped working properly after a couple years, regardless the brand, new batteries, etc. My corded one is going strong for many years. I prefer to stick with what works and not have to throw away and replace stuff. Do other people have this problem with wireless mice?
My main reason is that the wireless mice are heavy because of the batteries. I have wrist/hand problems related to overuse (had these probs since I was a teen) and so I am always trying to make my computer setup as light as possible to preserve my hands and wrists.
The wireless one, over time, aggravated my body!
In the midst of the complicated process of switching cell service providers while activating a new-to-me phone in order to give my iPhone7 to my technophobe husband, who is giving up his Jitterbug, a useless waste of money. So much is complicated, right down to the important fact of reaching the new service provider to walk me through this. What are we doing to ourselves??
At least I opened the box with the new phone without cutting anything. And it isn't actually new; it is "Amazon Renewed", which means someone else use to own the "new" phone.
Stop the world, I want to get off.
I usually have the opposite problem opening things. I usually end up hurting myself for example getting: cardboard box cut (way worse then paper cut), nail chipped down to the bed or nail bent back or some how getting whatever it is jammed under the nail and then causing the nail bed to bleed! Oh well! I’m so glad we never had manikins in pharmacy school! We practiced on the grad students , faculty, and alumni and their families. They also volunteered for competency labs and finals too! God Bless them!
Kristen, I’ve done over half of that list for my son! The first time I opened sterile gloves I opened them the wrong way (non-intuitive packaging), and the RT’s look made me feel so small. But I figured it out and became proficient pretty quickly.
Even if it’s not comfortable the first time(s) it will become second nature soon enough!
Practical exams are always difficult because of NERVES. Once you've done it a few times for real, it's not difficult, but with someone watching and grading, it's much more difficult. The first time you do it with a real patient it's hard too. But then, muscle memory takes over and it's not difficult after that. The big challenge is to approach it with a "beginner's mind", to forgive yourself for the little things, and stay calm.
I'll bet you did great! I'm seeing a future for you as a nursing instructor. Not right away, but on down the line, when you are tired of long shifts and the physical work.
@Jan, oh, and P.S. Two words. Wireless mouse! The price difference is negligible these days, the convenience is major.
I am pretty confident that you will pass your test on the first try, but if you don’t, I know you will fix whatever needs fixing and pass it the next time. Because that’s kinda how you roll ☺️. And please refer to that mouse package as a “design flaw.” You know you’re not stupid.
My husband badly gashed his finger on the stiff plastic trying to cut open the packaging of a new mouse.
I have accidentally slashed the cover of books slicing open the box they were packed in and slit a few rolls of toilet paper in the past.
I nearly always come to this party late so don't know whether I'm read. But the competency testing reminded me of clinicals when we were actually allowed to observe surgeries. The surgeon turned to ME to remove and replace her gloves. Terror ensued. The surgical nurse had wide eyes and just encouraged me. Was successful and nobody died from cross contamination that day.
And to the Blue Angels observer: My cousin lives in Kansas City, MO and shared her video of them flying over for the football game. (She often shares the B52 flyover.) My cousin doesn't live far from the stadium. And then lo and behold, my friend in Pensacola, FL captured them along the coast on their return home. It always brings a thrill even in a video.
Hey, that was me asking about the supplemental medical info! Thanks for the recommendations. I'm currently slogging through a chapter on "The Cell." It's tough to get your mind back in "school-mode" when it's been so long. Thanks again!
Ohhh, ok! Are you in Bio 101? If so, you might like the Amoeba Sisters videos on YouTube. I watched a number of those when I was in Bio 101.
I’ve cut through garments and other stuff while trying to open packages. You’re not alone.
I’m sure you will do great on your competency exam!
Whenever I have a bad day or even a bad week, I try to think that maybe I’ll have a story to tell from this and perhaps even be able to encourage someone going through a similar woeful situation. And if my bad experiences bring tears, so be it. And then I think, there’s always tomorrow. And I feel hopeful.
Sorry for this “late” response… your post just showed up in my email this morning:)