Toronto!

So...two weeks until I move to Toronto.
And this will be my home (away from home) for two months.
The name of the hospital is North York General. It is fairly large, and employs over one thousand nurses! I'll be on a general surgery floor (which is great - lots of skills!!) and moving in with my boyfriend, K., who is currently going to school at Osgoode Hall Law School.
This is my first time moving to a big city! I'm from Newfoundland, and even if I am in St. John's (the main city), the whole province feels like a small town. Every patient I have previously had asks me my last name, and who my parents are, and who my grandparents are, and quite often it turns out that they are my third cousin or we know each other somehow. And in a city with millions of people, this will definitley not happen.
This is also my first time moving in with my boyfriend. I hear that this can be difficult - but we've gone out for seven years, so I know him really well. He's my best friend and favorite person in the whole world.

one of those things

So, without getting into specific details (because of client confidentiality, of course), one of the many million things I have learned about nursing is how unlucky some people can be in terms of their health. Some people never seem to get a break - i've met people who have had various unfourtunate events or tons of comorbid dieseases. However, in many cases, despite the fact that many I've visited can't get out of bed, or are obviously in excruciating pain, they still manage to smile or make a joke.

It makes you feel silly when you feel like you've had a "bad" day. Especially when you are lucky enough to have a good family, or be in a good relationship, and have enough money to buy food, and are healthy.

Dressings! Wounds! And more dressings...

So far my community health experience has consisted mostly of dressing changes and wound assessment. I've seen multiple pressure ulcers, wounds secondary to vaculitis, post-op surgical wounds, wounds that are necrotic, wounds that will likely cause sepsis, wounds that are healing, tunneling, macerated...you name it. I am trying to learn all about different dressings, but there are so many! I am told that it gets easier with practice. We'll see.

Making home visits is a completely different kind of nursing than in the hospital. You are essentially a guest of the client's home, unlike at the hospital, where patients feel more like guests. You have to deal with messy houses, pets, and driving in snowy weather. We don't use dressing trays and use sterile gloves instead, so being dexterous and sterile is a bit of a challenge. But so far I am having a great experience!

Would love to hear from you!!

2010!

So, I haven't written in awhile.
Mostly because last semester consisted of mostly non-clinical courses. I worry that I've lost some of my skills, sort of gone backward instead of charging forward like I have done throughout my nursing school experience. However, 2010 brings lots of exciting things, namely lots and lots of hands-on nursing. I am taking my last final work term miles and miles away from home. As in two time zones away from home. In Toronto. Which is the most adventurous I've ever been, ever in my life. In May, I'll finally be graduating...and then instead of being Almost Nurse, maybe I'll change this thing to Actual Nurse or something.
I predict I'll be gathering lots of good, interesting blog material.
Happy 2010! I wish all you nurses and non-nurses a happy, productive, successful, and satisfying New Year!