Millie’s Blog

I have been doing clinical rotations in the local nursing home for 3 weeks now– this week will be my 4th and final week. It’s been a very interesting and rewarding experience. Going into a field like nursing you have so many options ahead of you and there are a variety of situations and people that you have the opportunity to work with. And although I have really enjoyed this set of clinical rotations, I do not believe that a nursing home is where I am intended to work. However, we did have quite an interesting day last Friday with a severe weather alert and a small fire in the mechanical room that set off the fire alarm. It was somewhat of a nerve racking experience for all of the student nurses– we had no clue what to do or what was going on. All the other nurses are grabbing fire extinguishers, closing doors and curtians, moving patients, etc. and we’re all just standing around like a deer caught in the headlights with no idea what we are actually suppose to be doing to help. Obviously, situations like this are not included when we get oriented to the facility and maybe it should be. In the end everything was ok, no one got hurt, and firefighters came in to check to make sure everything was safe.

On another note, it’s so hard to believe that this week is the last full week of classes?! It’s flown by faster than I ever could have imagined. I have a test to get through this week and plenty of homework, but after that I mainly just have to concentrate on studying for finals. After finals are finished I will begin my internship in May with Premier Medical group of Clarksville, assisting one of the supervisors. I’m really excited about it– I think it’s going to be a great learning experience especially to see a different side of the nursing world other than just the patient care.

I hope everyone enjoys the rest of the week! (Oh, and come check out Rivers & Spires in downtown Clarksville this weekend– the Gov’s Ambassador’s will be there and there’s plenty of food and entertainment!!!)

Spring break came and went, but it was a nice week off. It didn’t feel much like Spring though, since we had a good bit of snow for most of the weekend. Over break, I just took time to relax from all the school work and I went to visit some of my friends in Evansville, Indiana. I was planning to stay a lot longer than I did, but they were suppose to get a lot of snow and ice and I didn’t want to drive back on the interstate in that. I hated leaving early, but wasn’t sorry that I missed driving in all the nasty weather. Oh, but while I was there I had ice cream from Cold Stone Creamery for the first time– Ahh–MAZING! I think that was the highlight of the trip. LOL. I also went to a children’s museum while I was there, kinda corny, I know, but it was actually a lot of fun. In one part of it, you stood under this huge brain structure and played some light memory game (a lot like Simon, (I think that’s what it was called) for anyone who remembers that). It was pretty fun, except for when it started talking, which creeped all of us out just a little bit. Oh, and I got a marriage proposal from a little kid while we were out to dinner **Haha** All in all, it was an eventful trip even though it was short.

On a different note, I can’t believe how fast the semester is flying. It’s already the middle of March and final exams start in a little over a month! It doesn’t seem possible. I’m really excited though because my clinical rotations begin March 28th for Nursing. We do them once a week from 6:30 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. and have to make plans of care for the patients with whom we come in to contact. I’ll be doing these rotations at the Montgomery County Nursing Home, here in town. My first choice was the local hospital, because for some reason I was somewhat apprehensive about going to a nursing home. However, I think it is going to be a very rewarding experience and there is a good chance I will get to know my patients better than I would have if I had been with those that are in the hospital. Overall, I’m excited, but a little nervous, not knowing what to expect and being afraid I’ll mess up somehow, but I know it’ll all work out just fine. If anyone is thinking about attending APSU (or any other school for that matter) and wants to know more about the Nursing program, feel free to ask me.

Until later.

As most probably heard, we had some severe weather hit our area the first week of February. It was hard to watch the destruction and hear people’s stories, but there were some survival stories that amazed me and touched my heart. Like the small child who was found, alive, in the middle of a field, under some rubble. That, in itself, seemed like a miracle to me, but the crews also found a small photo album, with pictures of his mother, who had lost her life to the tornado, holding him in the hospital. In such an awful situation, it’s nice to know that when he grows up he’ll be able to have that memory to look at.
Although much of what I saw from the tornado destruction was on the news some it was on property that I grew up on and family members homes. Two of my family member’s lost their homes to the storms and my mother’s home was damaged as well, but liveable. In my mom’s yard we had two huge trees uprooted and one that demolished a large back deck. The room where I used to sleep had the side torn off and the roof caving in. Looking at the area it was hard to see the twisted metal, the appliances scattered, and personal belongings ruined. In the midst of it all, I had to realize how blessed we were that my family wasn’t in their home when it occured and that no one was killed or injured. I know that the Lord took care of all of them and it is because of Him that my mother’s house is still standing and that she can provide our family who lost their home with a place to live for a while. After all, all those material things lost in the tornado mean nothing compared to having life and a family to share it with.

– I also want to commend and thank the American Red Cross, FEMA, the military personnel, the Southern Baptist Men’s Group, and the MANY other volunteers who gave their time to aid in the clean up and help all the victim’s of the storms get back on their feet.

So Tennessee weather is unpredictable to say the least! Here we have tornado warnings/watches on Tuesday then Thursday roles around and we’re out of school for snow! It was nice to have a day off even though the snow had pretty much melted by mid day. We were suppose to get more snowy icy weather today, but didn’t. Living where I do, we don’t get to see much snow so whenever we do everyone gets pretty excited. However, I’ve talked to people from the north who laugh at our lack of skill at driving in the snow and the frantic runs to Wal Mart for bottled water, bread, and eggs at even a predicition of wintery weather. I guess it just comes from not being used to it.

Anyway, my first exam in Nursing is coming up and I’m going to spend most of the weekend studying. The first test of a class always makes me a little nervous since you don’t really know what to expect. However, I’m hoping I can study the right material and do well on it.

Finally, congrats to our Govs basketball team who secured a win in overtime against Murray. This puts us in first place in the Ohio Valley Conference! Let’s go Peay!

The Fall Semester is days away and I’ve had a nice break, but am ready to begin my Nursing classes again and start clinicals. I’m really ready to start all the hands on material. As much as I hated the setback last semester, it may help me perform better in the clinical setting and on tests since I’ve already gotten a lot of the information. Or at least that’s what I am hoping. I’m really ready to see my friends who went home for Christmas break also, but it’s been nice seeing some of them around the Admissions office over break.

Today, I think I’m going to go downtown and eat at one of our restaraunts called the Blackhorse (their pizza is awesome!) with a friend that I have known since elementary school. It’ll be nice to catch up with her before both our schedules become very busy with school work. Also, this weekend I plan to go to a movie– I’ve been on a movie kick lately– I’ve been to see Alvin and the Chimpmunks, which was adorbale and funny, P.S. I Love You, which I cried the whole way through practically, and this weekend I think I’ll see Charlie Wilson’s War, anything with Julia Roberts and Tom Hanks has to be good, right?

Hope all is well with everyone. Until later.