#12 Conference week

Conference didn't work out for me due to my work schedule and not being able to get off work.  I really was hoping I could make it happen but it didn't.  I was really hoping to have some time to spend on homework and studying but ended up working the whole week.  I have had to cut back my work and make sure I am putting my schoolwork ahead of everything else.

It has been such a crazy experience to hear about and work with dennis and ALS.  I have found that there are so many variables to neurodegenerative disease.  Working on the service learning and information has really helped appreciate the simple things that we do without thinking that a healthy body can do for us. 

This has a lot of meaning to me as a nurse.  The experience of working with a patient who is going though something like ALS has been very benifitial so that I can know what type of nurse I would like to be and how nursing will effect my life.

#11 health professional concerns

I believe we actually went outside for class today.  It was finally somewhat nice.  This spring has been a little more depressing that I would like it to be and the weather patterns isn't really helping.  Our discussion about health professional concerns was pretty good I think.  For the most part everyone in our class is fine with discussing and sharing their opinions and life experiences with each other and there is some wonderful insights that others bring to class. 

I personally didn't meet with dennis this week but shad and I have something scheduled for the following week.  We have been working on the paper and I like the people I am working with and can see that it will turn out really good as long as we can just stay on task.  I believe we have enough information and insight to meet all of the requirements on the paper.  It is fun learning about something that we have been able to work closely with and have an experience that others might never get.

#10 guest presenter

This week in class we learned about oils and what their benefits may be used for.  It was really strange at first and wasn't sure really why we were having a person come talk to us about essential oils that obviously made some type of money or kick back from selling the particular brand of oils she came to talk to us about.  

Overall it was pretty good explanation and overview of the essential oils.  I can see a benefit and that there can be some use for such practice.  I was a little disapointed when I heard that the other class had someone come in and do acupuncture and cupping.  I can go into lots of different health specialty stores and have someone give me an earful about essential oils but I have never seen cupping or even acupuncture. 

#9 Substance abuse/ Holistic Care

I didn't meet with Dennis this week. We are working on something up coming with him.  It has been hard to schedule time times with each other as well as with Dennis.  It seems We go over topics that are closely related in our lectures all the same week.  This can be good but sometimes a little redundant.

What does this all mean to me as my future as a nurse?  I often ask myself that question and try and find ways that will actually help me.  Sometimes it's a hard question to answer cause I feel that just like there is plenty of good information to learn that will help me I think that there is a lot that doesn't apply to me really being a better nurse.  I do try to take as much as I can to see what things are important.  Holistic care is always important and helps me remember there is so much more to nursing that just the actual diagnosis.

I think substance abuse is such an important thing that has an effect on so many people that understanding how to teach others and live my life in a way that reflects what I want to help others learn.  I think so many of us can think of a situation that we may be close to or have been near that substance abuse has devistated not just the abuser but so many lives surrounding it. 

My good friend that is now clean I lived with for a year and a half while in methadone treatment.  After his brother ODed and died he was decided to get clean.  On the other had another friend just got divorced after relapsing again and is now facing some big problems.  It's really hard to see how peoples lives can be completely ruined.  Just because some people can overcome drugs doesn't mean all or many will.  Even if you kick it once an addict you are always an addict. 

I have another good friend having serous relationship problems because one doesn't see the need to give up his smoking weed.  It's really sad to see how drug abuse causes so many problems with relationships.  I am always open to discussing this with my friends and always plan to be there for someone when they need me.  I hope to help others by educating and supporting them. 

#8 Healthy Lifestyles/ Exercise

I thought we had a great class discussion about exercise and the things that makes it hard and why living a healthy lifestyle has many challenges.  I know how hard it is to stay in shape and get back into shape.  I work hard to not let myself get to out of shape because I know how hard it is to start getting back into exercising.  I liked how we talked about that there are so many ways to lead healthly lifestyles and that everyone has an opinion on what is the best way to do so.  I can't agree more with the fact that it is so much better to find something you enjoy to keep yourself active or else that can be just torture.  Also I believe goals can really drive you to become what you want to be physically.  But goals must be reasonable as well.

I met with Dennis this week for a couple hours and got to know about him and his situation.  He is very willing to talk about just about anything.  He is very away of his condition and realistic in his views of what are important at this stage in his life.  I tried to point out the good things he still can do to keep his autonomy but he seems to be needing more assistance and time continues. 

We were going to work on a book about him but he wanted to tell us some stories and I think he just really enjoyed being able to tell us about all the things he used to be capable of and how much of a awesome guy he was.  He also talked some about his family and what they are doing now but mainly about himself and some great stories.  I can definitly tell he is in a stage where he is evaluating what he has done in his life and some things that once might have been important to him are no longer very important at all.  He expressed some signs of depression when he talked about his arms and how strong he used to be and now he can barely control them.  I felt that this was therapeutic for sure.  I feel that we are definitly making a difference to him and he expressed how much he appreciated our time.

#7 Surprise...

Surprise definition, to strike or occur to with a sudden feeling of wonder or astonishment, as through unexpectedness.  That about sums up how things seem to be going lol.  I will have to be honest in that I haven't done a whole lot with this class in this week period but I have done a pretty good job in making up some blogs as you can see.  I have made sure to cover most of the essentials and I feel good about it.  I should be meeting with my project group this week and am really excited for my first visit.  The others in my group have already made it out and so from what I hear there should be some really good oppertunities to help out with and do some teaching.

I have been looking more to the future and what is coming up so I can better stay on top of what I'm doing.  I have also put the upcoming things in my planner and so that should help things stay in front of me.  As a student nurse I wonder if this is just how it is and I'm thinking so. 

At this point in the nursing program it's amazing how different I look at people in general. I am really less judging in a lot of ways.  I mean we all have some problems right.  It's not easy to seek help or admit you need help.  It can be a humbling thought that you are and will be able to in some way make someones life better.  It's ironic and somewhat humorous to me a little bit that the grind of school and stress it puts on life that is making my life not so fun now is to hopefully have the chance to make a difference in the future.  Think big picture here.  That's what I keep telling myself.

#6 Service learning day

Now we are setting up schedules to start on our project.  We will be doing our service in groups of two so that we will be able to focus on our outcomes better.  I am excited to schedule some time and make it happen.  Last we discussed we were going to focus on some safety and nutrition ideas and assessments.

This was a really stressful time for me.  I didn't really know how to prepare for my test coming up except outlining the chapters and reading.  That's a lot of info to cover without much direction at all.  We had a nice study group session during the time we normally would have had class.  Sometimes it's nice to know that everyone else has the same struggles you do.

Something I find interesting about how my learning and understanding is in the nursing program is that I really enjoy learning and how much there is to know.  It really is fun to learn about so many things that can help you help others help themselves.  I don't always think that what I have learned and all the experiences that are so positive are reflective in a way that can be expressed by a grade.  This sounds like a complaint but it's more of just my thinking and linking of information in my life with all the added stress that I am experiencing.