Hi,
I have a new blog called Happenstance and Happiness. It's a bit more random than Almost Nurse, but will still have nursing posts. Please visit!

http://happenstanceandhappiness.blogspot.com

See you all there!

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!

A Bit of This, A Bit of That

Just wondering...

When you are a nurse, how do you define career success? Nursing is not a status symbol profession. Nurses are rarely singled out for doing a good job. The best of nurses aren't necessarily at the top. There aren't really hierarchical ladders to climb, no one gives us certificates. Our profession is associated with trust from the public, but it is not associated with public admiration or awe, like physicians recieve. If a business person fails to perform his/her job properly, they may not get a raise or a promotion. If a nurse fails to do his/her job properly, it probably means that a patient wasn't recieving proper care.


Success for me is waking up every day and absolutely loving my work. Success is always being professional, and always providing safe care. It is important to me to have a life outside of my job, and to be able to have time to take care of myself, my family, and my friends. I would like to make a difference to a lot of people. I really hope that there is more to life than paychecks, and fancy offices, and plugging in hours at work.

Is being average really a bad thing? What is "average" anyways? Is being memorable necessarily a good thing?
Any thoughts?

Giving thanks

Yesterday, for all you Canadians, was Thanksgiving. Today, I am overstuffed with a weekend full of turkey, dressing, carrot cake, carrot soup, vegetables, and ice-cream cake.

Traditionally, on Thanksgiving, you are supposed to reflect on what you are thankful for. Here are some of mine:

1) Almost finishing school, and entering a profession that allows me to meet many different people and positively affect their lives.
2) Having a boyfriend that is intelligent, passionate, works hard and is good at having fun too.
3) Long walks in the sunshine with my dog.
4) Hot baths and a warm bed after a long, busy shift. Actually, hot baths and a warm bed anytime.
5) A good, supportive family that loves me.