First clinical day!

Our first clinical went good. It wasn't as exciting as many of us anticipated but considering we don't know how to do too much that was probably safer for the patient!! We made beds, gave bed baths and did transfers among other basic tasks. I was lucky enough to be one of the three students who observed an in/out catheter insertion. Perhaps next time I'll be able to do one by myself. These are pictures of us girls in our stylish head to toe white uniforms!

Practicing on my imaginary patient

Every student got a catheter kit to take home and practice with, so this is me working on my technical skills. Although my instructor said we could practice on a teddy bear or anything that had a hole, I opted for an imaginary patient! :) We head to the hospital early tomorrow morning....we're going live!

My nursing instructors

From left, Ms. Susan Patton, me & Ms. Joy Cook. These are my lab instructors and Ms. Cook is my clinical instructor and will be with me during clinicals this semester. They are both wonderful! We learned how to administer catheters today! It was, well...interesting. The most frightening part of the whole thing is that some of us will actually be giving caths to real people on Wednesday. I guess I'll just do what we tell the patient when we insert the catheter, "Take a deep breath and try to relax!"

Nasal drama!

For obvious reasons I cannot have my nose piercing in during clinicals. The piercing I had was incredibly painful to put in, therefore it would most likely feel pretty unpleasant coming out! Whitney and I went to a piercing place today and I had the old one taken out. The piercer said it would hurt so bad she wouldn't do it and had to cut it in half to get it out. Needless to say, I was totally ok with that! Anyways, I got a new stud that comes out easily so now I'm all set for clinicals.

Our nursing lab

These are pictures of our amazing nursing lab! We have multiple labs in the nursing building but this is the one that we use most often. So far we have learned things like vital signs, bed making, bed baths, transfers and enemas!! From left (Steph, Crystal, Becca and Rebecca). We start clinicals next week and will be working with real patients and we are all slightly anxious! Everything else is going pretty good. Classes are tough but I am hanging in there :)

Hanging with the girls

Hanging out over at Ashley's house watching a movie in her sweet theater!! Whitney and I got caught snoozing :)

Studying away...

Proof that I am studying my little butt off--even on the weekend :)

Katie's homecoming!

My cousin Katie had her homecoming court presentation this morning and it was so fun! They have a royal court with a few couples from 9th-12th grade. They get all dressed up in formal attire, introduced in front of the entire school, family and friends and each couple does a short dance. She looked absolutely gorgeous and it was really special to be here and have the opportunity to go. She leaves for college next fall so we all have to enjoy her while she's still here!

Celebrities!!!

Ok. So, most of you know that I am a total celebrity junky. Ashley, who is my new friend Whitney's roommate grew up here and has some serious ties to the rich and famous! Anyways, she is taking us around on Monday to a bunch of celebrity homes. I know it's unlikely that we'll run into anyone but it should be fun. I'll post pictures when we get back!

Fun Pictures!

As I promised---here are some pictures of my apartment, ghetto rental car, Belmont campus, Inman Center (where the School of Nursing is) and my friend Whitney (from Oregon and also a nursing student). Hope you enjoy the pics!!

I'm here!!

Sorry I haven't posted anything in the last few days but I've been busy getting moved in and starting classes. I really like my apartment and my roommate. As some of you know I was worried that she would have some freakish unicorn fettish or something! She seems completely normal and very nice :) My car has yet to arrive in Nashville which has left me driving an incredibly ghetto rental car. I'll have to take a picture of it and post it. It will surely give you all a good laugh. I haven't explored around Nashville too much but I'll probably venture out this weekend. I've met some nice people, most of them in the nursing program. I had my first nursing class today and it was so much fun! It was my clinical which meets in our campus lab for the next few weeks and then we go the hospital and work with real people!! My clinical group will be on a med/surg floor at a hospital in Franklin. Today we learned how to make a hospital bed, give a bath, and safety stuff (gloves, gowns, goggles). I can't believe I am actually here. It still amazes me.
I'll take some pics around Nashville and maybe some of my lab. I love and miss all of you very much. I know some of you worried about how I would transition into this huge change. Know that I am honestly doing really well. The picture is the view from the parking lot at my apartment complex---downtown Nashville as the sun is going down.

New York

Had a blast in New York! It was pretty insane (tourist season) but we had a great time despite all the crowds of people. Can't leave out my picture with New York's finest...the NYPD! My next post will be from Nashville since I leave on Friday! Can't believe I am finally going.