October 2, 2007

Long time no post

This is the first day that I feel like I have a bit of a breather, where I can actually sit down and update this blog.

We have our skill practical today. I passed...I didn't think I was going to: when I got to Vital Signs, I couldn't find a radial pulse to save my life. But--and hell must have frozen over because I was able to do this on the first attempt--I was able to take a brachial pulse and use that. To really appreciate that statement, you have to understand that I've spent the past four weeks fighting with brachial pulses...namely, I can never find one when I need it. Not mine, not my instructors', not my classmates'. I can find mine as I'm driving on the interstate, but not when I need it. So for me to be able to go to my classmate's arm and find it (with a little prodding) was a big achievement.

Her pulse was 100. Mine was 95. Think we were nervous?

The rest of Vital Signs went well.

Foley: I did make two contamination mistakes, both minor, and I did catch one before the instructor did so that helped. I passed.

For the random skill: I drew restraints, which had me thanking God because for some unknown reason, I was driven to spend most of yesterday tying quick-release knots on everything around the house. I did that perfectly, even the knot...mind you, I was a bit worried about the knot as most of my practice around the house yesterday wasn't successful. But I got it to go on the first shot.

So yay, I get to stay in the program until the next practical, whenever that will be. I got the hell out of Dodge as soon as it was over, ran some errands and came home. I was going to get some studying done when I decided to give myself a few hours off to unwind. I think I more than earned it.

As far as the lecture component goes...it's pretty intense. We have weekly tests, and one test is hardly over before I have to gear myself up for the next one. I feel like I have so little downtime--if I'm not at the computer studying, I've got the book out; if I don't have the book out, then I'm using notes or flashcards or anything else. I lecture my son constantly on the material. I don't think he cares much for it though.