Millie's Blog

Happy Fourth!

millie — Thu, 03 Jul 2008 20:06:13 +0000

Happy early 4th of July! Watching fireworks has got to be one of my favorite things to do. So far, I’ve already attended one display which was at my church on Sunday– we had a time of food and games and wrapped it up wtih a pretty large fireworks show (well, large compared to the size of the church). Tonight is Clarskville’s annual 4th of July celebration at McGregor Park and I’m definitely not fighting the crowds to attend that one, although I’m sure it’ll be great. Instead, tomorrow I’m going to go to Ft. Campbell’s event that has a time where a band plays, followed by a huge fireworks session and several carnival rides are set up close to the field where its held. It’s always a lot of fun and something that everyone, no matter age, truly enjoys. (I’m looking forward to the funnel cakes….definitely my favorite part of the carnival!)

I hope whatever your plans are, big or small, that you will have a great time celebration our nation’s independence. Be safe and enjoy all that you do!

Internship

millie — Wed, 04 Jun 2008 14:04:32 +0000

So this summer has been busy already and we still have over 2 months before Fall classes start back up. Right after the Spring semester ended I began my internship with a local medical group called Premier. Since I get to do clinical work throughout my Nursing semesters I chose to see the leadership side of the organization. I began working at the Imgaing Center and the OB/GYN clinics. I got to see all the work that has to be done in converting every single paper chart they have on file to and electronic medical record. Slowly, but surely they will have that done to all of the offices Premier includes. Seeing all the time and effort that goes into that really makes you appreciate all the behind the scenes details that go into running organizations. After two weeks of working I moved to the Family Practice center and began work with the clinical nurse supervisor. She definitely had a lot on her shouders and there wasn’t a moment, practically, that someone wasn’t interuppting her to ask her a question or that she wasn’t handling some important manner. It became obvious that she was an integral part of all the nurses and doctors working well together. Overall I got to see a lot of things that I never would have otherwise seen and everyone I met was very welcoming and generous with helping me in all the tasks I was assigned. ….Now all I have to do is write a paper analyzing the leadership and structure of the organization…Fun! I’d rather just chalk it up to a good learning experience, but hopefully writing the paper will make me think more about what I really learned while I was there.

And finally, on another note, I’m so anxious to get to go to Gatlinburg. I haven’t been in so long and it’s a place that I absolutely love to be! Anyway, whenever my husband gets to come home for leave from Iraq that’s where we’ll be headed. We plan to go to Dollywood, the Dixie Stampede. and take a helicopter ride over the mountains. If you’ve never been, it’s definitely a place that you need to visit!

I’ll write more later.

Nursing Clinicals

millie — Mon, 14 Apr 2008 13:55:08 +0000

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 is Over

millie — Fri, 14 Mar 2008 14:46:26 +0000

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.

Stormy Times

millie — Fri, 22 Feb 2008 16:36:22 +0000

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.

Snow day

millie — Fri, 01 Feb 2008 17:01:15 +0000

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!

Spring is on its way

millie — Fri, 11 Jan 2008 16:38:46 +0000

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.

And now….Exams are OVER!

millie — Wed, 19 Dec 2007 17:23:38 +0000

I’m really glad that exams are over and to have made it through a tough semester. We’re still waiting on grades to be officially posted, but I have a good idea of the grades I ended up with and I am pretty happy about them. I’m working in Admissions over the break and planning to spend time with family, but won’t be going to Virginia to see my brother and sister in law like I had planned. However, I think we are going to have a big Christmas celebration with all my family at my cousin’s house early Christmas morning–we’ll go there and have breakfast like french toast and pancakes and open up presents there. Then that night my mom, grandmother, and I will have the traditional Christmas dinner. I’m looking forward to making my famous German Chocolate cake. ;). Christmas is my favorite time of year! I love all the lights, especially the one Clarksville puts up at the Riverwalk, the music, and the good mood that everyone seems to be in. I hope everyone has a good break from school and/or work and a very Merry Christmas!

Exams are here!

millie — Tue, 04 Dec 2007 18:10:04 +0000

Tomorrow is the last day of classes– hard to believe! I’m looking forward to getting through the exams and having a small break. My first exam is this Friday and then my last is the 12th. I’ll be working during our winter break in our Admissions office, but am hoping to have time to visit some out of town friends and family. I also hope that I’ll be physically able to give campus tours once again– I miss getting to meet new people and talking about APSU. Anyway, just wanted to write a quick post. I better get back to finishing last minute papers and studying.

Happy Thanksgiving

millie — Mon, 26 Nov 2007 01:44:50 +0000

Just wanted to say that I hope everyone had a great Thanksgiving and ate plenty of turkey, dressing, pumpkin pie, and all that good stuff!

I had most of my family to my house and just got to sit back while everyone else brought the food– I’m not brave enough to do the turkey on my own yet. LOL. For those of you who went shopping on “black Friday” I feel for you because I was at Wal Mart late that night and it was still ridiculous so I can only imagine what shoppers faced in the early morning. If you went out that day, I hope you found some good sales though.

All in all it was nice to have a small break from class, although I spent most of it studying. This semester has really flown by and I’m finding it hard to believe that exams are almost here and winter break will be here before we know it- all the Christmas songs I’m already hearing on the radio are definitely reminding me of that!

Until later,
Millie