Banner Week

This week has definitely been a banner week. So many wonderful things have happened!

Sunday: My roommate and I were invited to dinner. Exciting because she enjoys one of the guys in attendance and because the guy who invited us is the coolest guy in our ward. He makes me laugh embarrassingly hard. I always love making new friends.

Monday: I actually made it to Pilates. Now that may not sound exciting to you but it's a pretty big deal to me. By the end of my school day I'm usually ready to curl up in the fetal position, not so much ready to head to the gym. It was a good class - way over my fitness level but I enjoyed it none the less.

Wednesday: Prices came down just enough for my roommate and I to buy tickets to London!!! I've been wanting to go forever and now I'm really going! We'll be going for 10 days in May (during the semester break). I'll keep you posted on that one!

We also invited people from our new ward over for Sunday dinner. Our first dinner party!

Thursday: I passed my skills test which was the last requirement for one of my courses. Clinical begins on Tuesday. The only downer of the week - I got the scariest instructor for my psych rotation. She has a reputation for writing people up for the most ridiculous infractions and one of her students mysteriously wasn't allowed to come back this semester. My whole group is a bit panicky.

Friday: NO SCHOOL! If that were all it would be the most exciting event of the week. My clinical group was required to attend a job fair at TMC so I dragged myself down there and made a beeline for the ER booth. I asked the manager what she thought about starting in the ER straight out of school and she went on about personality and what it's like and being really challenging... I peppered her with questions and finally she leaned over, put her hand on my shoulder and said, "you just don't seem like a med/surg nurse to me." That may be one of the best compliments I've ever received! Shortly thereafter the nurse recruiter asked me to fill out the background check release and while I was doing that she came back over and said, "the Emergency Dept would like to make you an offer..." I have a job when I graduate!! Actually, I have a job now, I can work as a nurse tech (whatever that is) until I get my license. So I don't have to "work my way up" to the ER, I get to start there. I very, very excited about that. I will, of course, inquire about opportunities in CA but if I end up staying in Tucson this is the best job I could hope for.

On top of all that greatness, I had some errands to run and in particular needed to buy a new pair of black heels and I found the perfect pair at Target. Shoes at a reasonable price. Ahhh, the glory of it.

Not a bad week. Not at all.

I love Western Medicine...

Today we learned about a pain management technique called Therapeutic Touch. It's based on the idea that we all have energy fields around us and when we are ill or experiencing pain there is a disruption in our energy field. Therapeutic Touch is designed to smooth out the energy field and help us heal. I have no problem with that, I believe we do have an energy about us, but since I couldn't "feel" my field one of my classmates volunteered me as a subject. Perfect, I had a headache (like always) and my back hurt (from sitting on a stool for hours on end) so hey, I'm game. So our instructor waved her hands around me and I didn't feel anything - which believe me was not what I was supposed to say. We kept practicing and by the end of class my little headache was a full-blown, I hate the inventor of light and please stop making noise I might vomit, bad headache. Assuming it was a sinus headache I prescribed myself 2 Sudafed and waited. Nothing. Called mom - going to die - Nothing. So I took a couple, okay 4 Ibuprofen and 2 (never take more than 2 at a time if you want to keep your liver) Tylenol and a bowl of Cheerios (never take that many drugs on an empty stomach) and, hey, 30 minutes later I feel fantastic. Might even be ready to tackle my neuro assignment. So while I think this "natural" stuff is lovely and makes my heart warm, when I hurt - give me the good stuff.

Oh, and the good news is... I will be spending my Vulnerable Populations rotation in the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU). I can't wait.