Friday, December 31, 2010

Stethoscope Help Needed


UGGGGGHHHHH!  I received paper work in the mail yesterday to inform me of our January orientation which will include buying a stethoscope.  I have this paper showing all the possibilities but I have NO clue which to choose.  Why is Littmann so great?  Are these prices fair or should I be competitive shopping on the Internet elsewhere?  Or my hubby's idea would be to check with the hospital and see if I can buy a discounted one. 

Humm there are so many to choose like 3M Littmann Master Cardiology for $196.50, down to 3M Littmann Lightweight II SE for $45.50.  Then there are the ones I highlighted that are combined in a "Nurse Kit" which include the stethoscope, nylon pocket organizer, scissors, chart pen, and disposable pen light with a 3 year warranty (seems like the best deal) for only $86.00.

What do you guys think?  What should I be looking for?  I don't want to get suckered because I don't know any better.  Thanks ahead of time for anyone who can help me.

Thursday, December 30, 2010

Possible New Year Resolution, most likely not.

Sorry I haven't blogged in awhile, I prefer to read and write my blogs when I'm alone but recently my hubby and I have vacation time we're using up until Monday when it's time for the kids to go back to school, but I have a few good blogs I'm working on and will try after Monday to get them out.  In the meantime I just couldn't pass up the opportunity to talk about steep incline walking, read further to know what I'm talking about.
While on vacation recently, I was reading a magazine article in Shape Magazine which featured an interview with Brooke Burke and her fitness secrets among other things.  In this article she mentioned besides taking 3 Pilates classes per week, that what helps her get fit is to get on the treadmill and walk at a 3.5 mph, at an incline (get this) of 15.  WHAT? 
This sparked my interest so much that when I got back home I grabbed my hubby by the hand and drove up to the local workout facility where we are members and challenged him to see who could keep up at a 3.5 pace at the steepest incline between the two of us.  Now before I could get my mph hour figured out on the treadmill I chose, I decided to increase the incline to its max. just to make sure it could go up to 15.  The two machines my hubby and I chose did indeed get up to 15 but that was the max highest it could go.  So we started off light, we got our speed up to 3.5, and slowly we increased our incline from 2.0 all the way up for me was about 6.0, and my hubby had to one up me to 7.0.  This was not an easy feat, I felt like I was climbing a mountain.  Afterward on the car ride back home I told my hubby that I didn't think I'd ever get to an incline of 15, which my hubby just looked at me and said "well Brooke Burke has been doing this her whole life, it's not like you could have just gotten on the treadmill and had been able to accomplish the same thing right off the bat" then he went on to say, "don't worry, you'll get there, you just have to take it one little incline at a time and you can get to 15".  So call it my New Year's resolution or whatever, but I plan to work my way up to 15 at 3.5 mph and see if I can really do what Brooke can do.  (I bet she only does it at 5 minutes intervals, it's not like you could work at that incline for very long... hummm...)

Sunday, December 26, 2010

Final Grades Reported

So I wasn't too far off from my predictions on my previous post refresh button.
Communications:  A
Existentialism:  A
Gym:  A-
Sociology:  B+
Statistics:  C+
Lets just say that Statistics sucked!!  I was able to get the grade needed to pass the class and I'll take the advice from my other nursing co-student "take the C+ and run and never look back", so I will.
Amen thank you Lord for another semester in the history books.

We're visiting in-laws in Indiana enjoying my time letting my mind not be bothered by stress from school.  Hope you all are having a great Christmas season.

Wednesday, December 22, 2010

Nursing FB Group

Who's blog did I read that said they were going to start up a nursing page on Facebook?  Anyone remember seeing that somewhere, because I'd like to join?

Tuesday, December 21, 2010

FB

Awww Facebook I've missed you!  I know I'll only be on fb until Jan. classes start again, but gosh darn it all, I'm excited for this break!

Done with finals 2010

I am done with my finals finally.  I finished my Statistics final this afternoon and I think it went horribly, but I think I'm still sitting okay with my overall grade.  I'm just glad its over with!!

Monday, December 20, 2010

Refresh Button

Uggh, how many times can my finger keep hitting tapping the refresh button on my school's website that shows the grades from the classes I took this semester? 
I'm annoyed with the fact that I keep doing it, but I want to know so badly how I did.  I mainly want to know how I did on my Soc final from last Friday, but no grades are posted yet.  I figure even though the professor may have finals today and tomorrow for other classes he teaches and even though according to the school the teachers have one full week to post their students' final grades, I still can't help but think this teacher is different than the rest and probably came in on the weekend just to post our classes grades.  (yea right, in my dreams)

Here's how I think my final grades will pan out being:

Gym : A- (well the teacher walked by on Friday as I was in the hall and he does the double guns hand gesture and points at me and says " A-" then winks and walks off.{c-mon people don't think anything, he's like 80 and needs to retire, either way it was nice to hear my grade.})

Communications: A (She totally loved me in her class; full participation credit and I will be rocking that one with an A confidently.)

Philosophy: A (Now this one class has been a difficult journey as far as putting my own personal viewpoints aside for the sake of learning and I think I did pretty well in his class.  At midterm I got an A-, but I think this last paper will put me over the edge into the A range.  {He liked our whole Existentialism class so much, he's invited us to his house tomorrow night for dinner...humm this is where I get my chance to ask him where he really stands with his faith...I look forward to it and can't wait.  No topic is going to be off limits!})

Sociology:  B- (the class wasn't difficult but the exams kicked my butt.  I super suck at multiple choice and always go with what I think is the right answer and then I shoot myself in the foot, because I end up picking the wrong answer.  Uggh, will I ever grow past that way of testing??)

Statistics:  B- (however I figured with all my homework assignments and testing to date, if I get 70 or higher on my final exam {which trust me will be hard work) I could walk out of that class with a B, so let’s get to praying I can prove, I know more than I think I do on this cumulative final.  :-)})

I'll keep you all posted.

Sunday, December 19, 2010

Person one and person two

How is it that after person one gains sobriety coming up on three years next month and still being okay with person two occasionally having a few cocktails once in awhile, that person two could leave out an empty bottle of person one's favorite vice while being an addict? 

Person one realizes tis the season for person two to be happy, but at the expense of possibly person ones sobriety? 

While this doesn't happen often, person one feels tempted to lick the inside of the empty bottle, but instead chooses to write a detailed explanation of the carelessness with leaving these types of bottles out by person two, also explaining this action can only cause harm towards both persons one and two on multiple levels. 

Perhaps after person two sobers up in the morning, will happen to notice said explanation taped to the empty bottle, sitting on the dashboard in person twos vehicle.

Merry Relaxing Christmas to all and to all a good night!

As my shift continues on through the day today I can't help but allow my mind to totally space out drift off into vacation mode.  I just am soooooo excited for my much needed break to this semester and "finals" period.  Tuesday is my last final for Statistics and cannot come fast enough. 
As my hubby and I were shopping for mass amounts of Christmas gifts last night, I made sure to pick up three of my favorite magazines (Shape, Self, and of course Cosmo) to be read on the car ride out of town Friday evening to the in-laws house a mere few states away.  I will happily be sitting in the passenger seat, reading my mags. catching up on my leisurely reading on the Kindle (What? What's reading for pleasure like again? haha), cranking up my favorite tunes on the radio including some Christmas songs that I'm going to belt out on the top of my lungs with the kids' help of course, pluck any last few stragglers of eyebrow hairs to make my look complete, over indulge on my diet dew addiction, and totally, utterly, and adamantly just not worry about any school work, or 9-5 work, or let anything rain on my parade of complete serene enjoyment! 
Merry Christmas to you all and hoping you all find a way to relax and take some time for yourselves this holiday season.
 
Please don't forget the reason for the season through your busy lives and whining and crankiness over relatives and disagreements, or burned food, or nasty cold temperatures, or unwanted gifts.

I love this passage from a Guideposts greeting Christmas card I got: 
In the quiet of a Christmas night so many years ago came a miracle... A Savior, Our Hope and Promise.
This was also on the inside of the card:
God grant you the light in Christmas, which is faith;
The warmth of Christmas, which is love;
The radiance of Christmas, which is purity;
The righteousness of Christmas, which is justice;
The belief in Christmas, which is truth;
The all of Christmas, which is Christ.
-Wilda English
Amen, hope you all enjoy your family and friends and loved ones this Christmas season!

Friday, December 17, 2010

Book Manufacturers new editions are awfully expensive

Over a year ago my original plan for the future regarding nursing school was to get my ADN through a tech school here in town so that I could move along in the program at a faster rate.  Unfortunately by the time I finished my required classes so I could start the nursing program, there was a waiting list (Spring 2012). 
So after much contemplating and discussing with my husband I chose the route of getting my BSN and working on my required classes for their program, just so I could start the nursing program ahead of the time expected through the tech school's waiting list by one year (Spring 2011). 
While I was in the tech school I had a friend who was graduating and willing to donate all of her nursing books to me last spring (March 2010).  Now somewhere along the road of stupidity crossing over with dim-wittedness I accepted this offer of books thinking I would someday need them.  After realizing that I wasn't going through the program at the tech school, I still thought these books would be needed in my university classes.
This past week I realized the curriculum followed by the university and the tech school are completely different and this collection of books that were given to me would be useless for my schooling (as far as needed text books for classes).
Yesterday I stopped at the tech school, with a wagon to hold all of these books in hopes of returning them to the buyback program, only to find out that the majority of the books are all off by one edition and the current program won't use them, and they didn’t need any of the books I walked in there with.  OH MY GOODNESS, really people???
How can one individual pay hundreds of dollars for books one semester and within moments those books are no longer "good" anymore? 
I've gotta say that I wasn't in that good of mood.  I was hoping for a little extra spending money for my next set of books that I need to purchase. 
Anyone have any suggestions of what I'm to do with all these books?

Wednesday, December 15, 2010

Interpersonal Communication - Excellent - 150/150

Feedback

This is excellent.  I'd like to use it as an example for future classes if that's alright with you.

Application Paper 3
I've never been very confident with my writing, and close to the beginning of this semester I was humbled in how much I didn't know, so I've grown with each comment and constructive criticism.  I was so pleased to get this feedback on my last paper in my Interpersonal Communication class.  Woo hoo!  ;~) 
I think this is what the gen. ed classes are all about, getting us students familiar with writing and learning our own style.

Tuesday, December 14, 2010

Dect the Halls

This video was on my schools website.  It is too funny.  Don't forget to turn up the sound on your computers when listening.

Sunday, December 12, 2010

1st semester books part 1

I have three classes my first semester for the nursing program that starts on Jan. 24th.  I wrote earlier that my girlfriend A is graduating and offered to sell me her books that were current and being used this next semester for a reasonable dollar amount.  I thought great, seeing as though the total amount of books will be 12, with one i-clicker, and a supply pack if purchased through the bookstore would be over $700, and approx. $500 or so from Amazon, will only cost me around $350.

Here is the list of my books that I bought from my friend:
Handbook of Nursing Diagnosis

Taber's Cyclopedic Med Dict Index

Understand Nursing Process-w/ Pocketbook

Guide to the Code of Ethics for Nurses

Drug Calculations w/CD

Physical Exam +Health Assessment w/CD

Clinical Nursing Skills-Basic to Advanced w/CD

i-Clicker
List of books that I need to purchase:
Essentials of Nursing Research w/CD  ISBN:9780781781534
Professional Nursing  (This one is a rental and I can get for free at the bookstore)
APA 6th Edition for paper writing ISBN 9781433805615
Physical Exam + Health Lab Manual ISBN 9781416038535
Pharmacology textbook and workbook package ISBN 9781437706055
and last but not least:
Student Medical Supply Kit (but I heard this consists of some sterile gloves, a pen light, and paper tape measure, I was told to buy each item separate from Walgreen's and it will be much cheaper than the bookstore price)
Oh and also I got a lab coat, here is a picture of it:
If you couldn't tell...I can not wait to START!!! AHHH!
I will update you all on the remainder of the books after I purchase them.

Saturday, December 11, 2010

Nursing Tamale Christmas Lunch

I got my lab coat, and a butt load of school books about 6 of them so far and that's half of what I'm going to need for my first semester alone!  I will blog about all that later.

BUT, I just thought I'd cut out some of my studying time to tell you all how my Christmas party luncheon went yesterday at my nursing school.
It started out well; I met my friend (and fellow co-student) at the school right on time for the start of the lunch at 10:30am.  The school was serving tamales (I wasn't sure how it tasted because I was too nervous to eat something heavy) with sides of sour cream, diced tomatoes, lettuce, cheese, black olives, but I chose to eat just a few baby carrots with an M&M cookie and some holiday punch.
We sat at this huge rectangle table in the "conference/break room" and I was just in awe of everyone around me.  These students all looked comfortably dressed, relaxed with easy banter and laughter rang throughout the room.  I have to say I was intimidated because while my friend and I were given invitations to this party we were the only two that showed up from our future class coming into the program for next semester.  No one else came but us, and a few times we got some weird looks from the other students. 
I saw another girlfriend of mine that is graduating the program this semester and she spots me from across the room and shouts out "Hey, why are you here?"  Now this came across totally friendly but in the back of my mind I'm thinking why did you just say that in front of all these people??  So in a friendly way I shout back out to her, "Because I was invited."  That answer got her to smiling big and she came over to me and we chit chatted for a while.  I tried my best to "network" with her friends and to see what their future plans were and the techniques they're using to get noticed for possible jobs, but everyone kept shoving their faces with food.  So the moment was passed up by their busy schedules needing to rush off to other engagements. 
My friend and I continued eating quietly and then from out of nowhere in a southern drawl quite loudly a lady approached us saying "now where are y'all from, I haven't seen you two before, you don't look familiar."
We introduced ourselves and she told us she was one of our instructors for our Nrsg-240 (7 credit) class.  Yikes, I kept thinking "gotta make a good impression, gotta make a good impression", then I thought I wonder how long she's been eyeing us and what all has she heard us talking about?  She was totally nice and easy going and the other students seemed to like her.  So if that was the only impression I made that day, I'm glad I went, oh and the M&M cookie was scrumptious. 

Tuesday, December 7, 2010

Hunker down

It's the last two weeks of school and I'm up to my neck with work and studying.  I'd like to finish this semester with a bang, so I'll not be posting until my winter break has started.  Aww I can't wait to sit on the couch and fall asleep during the middle of the day for a few days in a row.  Relaxation time will be mine, I can feel it.

Saturday, December 4, 2010

Carmel-Fudge Turtle Cookies

Oh how I love baking during the holidays.  My kitchen is so warm and the aroma smells delightful, then there's the excitement of watching the snow falling outside the house.  LOVE IT!  Besides the gooey cake cookies we made for Thanksgiving following Paula Deen's recipe, these are our second cookies we've made so far for the Christmas season.

Here is the Betty Crocker recipe for Carmel-Fudge Turtle Cookies.  My daughter baked the cookies, I dipped them in the carmel and plopped the hot fudge on top while my son put the finishing touch of the pecan on their tops.  Mine didn't turn out as pretty as Betty's but plenty of TLC wrapped into each one.  :-)


Caramel-Fudge Turtle Cookies

1
pouch Betty Crocker® Sugar Cookie Mix
Butter and egg called for on cookie mix pouch
2
tablespoons Gold Medal® all-purpose flour
12
caramels, unwrapped
1
tablespoon milk
1
cup hot fudge topping
36
Pecan halves
1.  Make cookie dough as directed on package, stirring in flour. Roll dough into 1-inch balls; place about 2 inches apart on ungreased cookie sheets. Bake at 375°F 11 to 12 minutes or until set. Cool 1 minute; place cookies on cooling rack.
2.  Microwave caramels and milk uncovered on High 1 minute to 1 minute 30 seconds, stirring once, until caramels are melted. Dip one side of each cookie at an angle into caramel mixture to coat top half; spread if necessary. If caramel thickens, add up to 1 teaspoon additional milk and reheat.
3.  Spread about 1 teaspoon fudge topping on top of each cookie. Place pecan half on topping. Let stand about 15 minutes until toppings are set.




First I started with just plain sugar cookies



Then I dipped them in the carmels


Then came the plop of hot fudge and pecans




Not too pretty but, not bad for our first time trying this recipe


Thursday, December 2, 2010

Nursing class schedule for January

Starting January 24th my nursing class schedule will be the following:
(3 credit class)  Nursing: Intro to the Profession
(7 credit class)  Foundations of Nursing Practice; includes lab, lecture and clinical
(2 credit class)  Nursing: Intro to Pharmacology
12 credits total which qualify me for financial aid and I'm not interested in taking any other gen. ed. classes that I need to finish up eventually.  I thought I'd concentrate on working hard and studying this first semester on just nursing. 

I've decided to finish my paperwork regarding the Honor's program and just pull the trigger on it already.  I always seem to have self doubt about important steps like these but when all is said and done, I usually pull through just fine.  So why not take the opportunity and see what I'm made of and see if I can really accomplish the work needed to stay at the level of Honors. 

Also I was included on a massive email for an end of semester holiday party with my nursing school buddies.  I don't really think I should go because I haven't actually taken any nursing classes this semester (just gen. ed.'s), but I still am considered a nursing student, so why not right?  I was given the invite via email, so maybe I will.  Maybe it will be a good chance to get to know my other co-nursing students.

Wednesday, December 1, 2010

So close yet so far.

20 days until Christmas vacation at the in-laws house in Indiana.
20 days until the end of this semester.
54 days until my first day of the next semester.
54 days until my first day for nursing classes.
I can't wait to get the long list of books needed for the next 2.5 years of school. 
I just have so many things to look forward to and I don't know if I'll be able to focus on these last two weeks of school.  Nursing school is so close and yet so far at the same time, will it ever come?