Becoming a Nurse

Found My Niche

2008-12-01T12:09:00.002-05:00

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Update on the latest twists and turns in my nursing career. My new company is great. I love it there. I am pursuing my Wound Care Nurse certification from the WOCNA. Things are looking up.

Formats available: Quicktime (.mov)

Tags: nursing, wound care nursing, wocn

This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-Noncommercial-Share Alike 3.0 Unported License.

Suicide - Thought for Nurses

2008-07-02T23:16:00.002-04:00

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New Nurse VLOG

2008-05-26T10:29:00.002-04:00

Please head on over to Damon's new BLOG/VLOG: Wounded Healer. You wont regret it.
It is a wonderful beginning and I am so excited to welcome this new nursing student into nursing. Please check it out...

Long Time No VLOG

2008-05-18T00:52:00.003-04:00

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An update on my transition into nursing. Thoughts on community nursing, homecare.

This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-Noncommercial-Share Alike 3.0 Unported License.

Nursing Students Rock

2007-10-30T08:59:00.000-04:00

OK, this is so old these guys have probably graduated by now! It's brilliant, cute and hilariously funny. I just could not resist.

Breezy Brooklyn Birds

2007-10-29T13:01:00.001-04:00

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Ok, it's a little long. Getting back into the videoblogging groove. I have seen pigeons around town do this flying sun dance before and have always wanted to catch it. While running some errands on a beautiful day yesterday, I finally did. Also some random driving footage on a glorious fall day. Pink Floyd, "Set the Controls for the Heart of the Sun" from the Ummagumma album provides the perfect spacey soundtrack.

First Year Nurse

2007-10-26T09:37:00.001-04:00

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Reflections on my first year. Still a work in progress. Feeling much more confident now, though. Still no regrets on my chosen path. Funny how my last two reflections posts echo each other. Variations on a theme. I did not notice this until after I made the post and looked back at my last one.

Leeloo Goes AWOL

2007-04-13T21:22:00.000-04:00

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The other night, Leeloo, our parrot, decided to take in a look around the neighborhood. Somehow, she hitched a ride out on an unsuspecting/distracted shoulder. This caused us one of the most frightening nights we have had. Seeing that the temperature was to drop below 40, we were sure our little tropical girl would have a tough night. So we put out our posters out around the neighborhood and went to bed fearing the worst. The next morning brought the best possible news. Leeloo foun her way onto the terrace of a family nearby. They found our "lost"posters while preparing to put their "found" posters out and called us right away. A miracle we are very grateful for!

Welcome home, Leeloo!

Sit Yer Butt Down And Take Report...

2007-03-23T07:24:00.000-04:00

It's Change of Shift. Wear green scrubs, while your at it...

Transitions

2007-03-19T23:41:00.000-04:00

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I have been missing in action for several months. This post is the first post reflecting on a very difficult time in my transition to life as a new nurse. I realized after I looked at this video that one might construe my comments to be critical of my preceptor. This is not the case for me. My preceptor was a lovely and talented nurse who did everything she could to nurture me. The mismatch for me had more to do with the facility itself and the pace there. I am just aware that some other nurses in my class had issues with their preceptors or coworkers.

A New Year

2007-01-01T00:34:00.000-05:00

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Reflections on transitioning into nursing and New Years wishes.

It's up! Fat Doctor: Change of Shift

2006-11-30T12:32:00.000-05:00

Check it out:
Fat Doctor: Change of Shift

This one is exceptional. Tons of Nurse blogs I have not had a chance to find yet. Boy, these folks are great writers, too. Very worthwhile, enjoy!

NCLEX

2006-11-20T11:44:00.000-05:00

I passed. I took my test Saturday and just found out that I passed. So now the real journey of becoming can begin. I can't begin to tell you how relieved I am!

Becoming

2006-11-12T19:30:00.000-05:00

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I am beginning to understand that nursing school is just the tip of the iceberg. Becoming a nurse is a transition that goes deeper than the knowledge and is an ongoing process. There are practical changes. Then there are the deeper changes in perspective. It's more than a change of career. It's a change of heart.

Change of Shift

2006-11-06T20:36:00.000-05:00

It's time to take report folks! "Change of Shift" is up and being hosted this month by the inimitable Disappearing John, RN. Once again, a great ride around the Nursosphere. Thanks, John!

Stop The Press!

2006-10-27T09:56:00.000-04:00

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Reflections on my first real nursing week. Three 12 hour shifts in a row. I am loving it... the hospital, the patients, the coworkers, all of it. Of course, I only have two patients right now. Let's see how I sound when I ramp up to seven. (Leeloo makes an amusing guest appearance)

New "Change of Shift"

2006-10-19T20:13:00.000-04:00

Calling all Nurses, Nursing Students, PCT's, NA's, and other interested parties:
The new "Change of Shift" is up and it is fantastic as usual. Seriously, this is a roundup of posts from around the Nursing blogosphere and it is REALLY great! Please check it out. Kim from Emergiblog does an amazing job presenting a wide range of interesting posts.

Passing Go

2006-10-19T19:20:00.000-04:00

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Another new beginning. Reflecting on my first two and a half weeks as a gainfully employed nurse. I am so gratefull and excited to be beginning my new career as an oncology nurse. I just finished orientation and tomorrow is my first day on the Ortho-Neuro unit working as a nurse.

Shift Change

2006-10-05T21:36:00.000-04:00

OK. I have been a lousy Nurso-blogo-sphere citizen lately. "Change of Shift" is a rocking trip through the nursing blogs started up by Kim over at Emergiblog. Check it out!

Paper

2006-09-27T09:25:00.000-04:00

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It's amazing how a simple piece of paper can make you feel.

Almost There

2006-08-23T18:10:00.000-04:00

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Pre-graduation reflections. OK, this got posted a couple of days after the fact! But it was made two days before I took the HESI (exit exam). More to come! Don't worry "Becoming A Nurse" is still a work in process and will not fade into the woodwork. Many, many thanks to all the wonderful supportive folks out there. Sorry for not posting more in the last few weeks. Things just got kind of intense.

OR Clinical Reflections

2006-07-28T16:24:00.000-04:00

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Just a quick post about my experience observing in the Operating Room. Brain surgery, no less. Wow. Amazing stuff.

Appologies!

2006-07-18T06:40:00.000-04:00

It's very much the home stretch and I am so sorry not to have been posting. My camera died, so I am down to only my webcam and this has definitely cramped my style in a big way. Lots of stuff has happened and I promise to post on it soon!

Change of Shift

2006-07-15T19:00:00.000-04:00

"Change of Shift" is up at Emergiblog. Check it out. It's kind of a nursing-centric version of "Grand Rounds" which rocks, too. A "best of" tour of the nurse blogosphere this month. Good stuff.

Reflections on ER Clinical

2006-07-02T11:28:00.000-04:00

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Last week I had the priviledge of spending a clinical day in the Emergency Department. It was an amazing, eye-opening experience. Hats off to ER nurses - you are a special breed. When the s@%t hits the fan, these folks are the embodiment of TEAMWORK. It was amazing to see what can be accomplished when a commited group of people band together for a greater purpose - the preservation of a human life.

Rerun: First Videoblog with Leeloo

2006-06-27T07:53:00.000-04:00

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For day two of videoblogging rerun week. My very first vlog ever. Done with my cell phone...yikes.

Rerun: Farewell to Cubeland

2006-06-26T17:43:00.000-04:00

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If that does not work try this

For videoblog rerun week: Here is an early vlog for me from July 15, 2005. This was my cubicle in my old life....

What's in Your Pocket?

2006-06-16T00:08:00.000-04:00

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OK, calling all nurses, lets play "What's in your pocket?" What do you consider essential in your scrub pocket? Tips and tricks from the "Experienced Ones" solicited!

Ten Years Gone

2006-06-14T00:07:00.000-04:00

Sean Hector MacLean (August 19,1979-June 13, 1996)

http://hopeline.com/
http://www.suicidepreventionlifeline.org/

Countdown to Graduation

2006-06-06T11:30:00.000-04:00

OK, so this is it. Back in school for the last 12 weeks. Two 6 week summer sessions. 14 Credits. 3 classes. 3 clinicals. A pile of papers, exams and assignments. And then, if all goes well, graduation and on to the NCLEX. I am very excited to be back. Time to start sending out resumes - some of my classmates already lined up jobs. WOW. I can not believe I am almost there. More video soon but for now it's time to dig in.

Farmer's Market Strawberries

2006-05-30T19:38:00.000-04:00

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Look what I found at the farmer's market!!! In downtown Brooklyn, of all places Yeah! Strawberries. Hello, summer (almost).

Blip TV Shameless plug

2006-05-30T13:08:00.000-04:00

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OK, I'm sorry but I love blip.tv. The Blip folks had a party last week to celebrate their success. They were kind enough to invite the blip-users yahoo group.... Thanks Blip.tv! Without these guys my vlog would not exist and if anyone is setting up a new vlog I urge you to give them a shot(http://blip.tv). Easy crossposting to your blog and the Internet Archive, too. Ok, I'm sorry to be a commercial but it's great to see such a nice bunch of people do well.

Leeloo's Naptime

2006-05-26T14:27:00.000-04:00

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Leeloo chills with her main man. I am trying to cut back on the Leeloo vids but she was being so sweet I could not help myself....

Intercommunication

2006-05-23T22:17:00.000-04:00

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Why I videoblog. Why I watch videoblogs. Why I believe videoblogging can be a powerful force for expanding our perception of communities and individuals and for breaking down stereotypes. It's way too long, I appologize. I talk too slow and too much. I am working on that. I had a lot on my mind. For the nurses: I do discuss why I blog/vlog about my nursing school experiences and i discuss culturally sensitive nursing.

For the folks whose work I used: Those of you whose licenses I was not sure about, I contacted. The folks with a CC share alike license, I just used your footage. I hope that is ok, please contact me if there is a problem and hopefully we can work it out.

WARNING: There is some profanity in this one as part of the "White Guy" sequence. Just to make a point. No, I don't believe that "All White Guys are (expletive deleted)..." Usually when you say ALL X are Y when it comes to people, you are looking for trouble. Usually.

The "White" Guy Mashup (Order of Appearance)

Richard BF: All White Guys, http://www.kashum.com

Paul Reynoldson: Why The World Laughs at America, http://paulreyno.blogspot.com

Steve Garfield: People Are Future, I Can't Open It http://stevegarfield.blogs.com/videoblog

Michael Verdi: The Yang of Videoblogging, http://michaelverdi.com

Markus Sandy: Elevator Pitch, http://apperceptive.blogspot.com

Jay Dedman: The Talking Head Argument, http://www.momentshowing.net/momentshowing

Jerry Verdi: Wishbone, http://jerryverdi.com

Daily Dancer: Always Look On The Bright Side, http://dailydancer.com

Paul J Knight: Why The World Laughs At America, http://pjkproductions.blogspot.com

Daniel Liss: Season's Greetings, http://mookievlog.blogspot.com

Schlomo Rabinowitz: Lets Go To WonderCon, http://schlomolog.blogspot.com

Andrew Schneider: Degrees of Harmonies, http://whetherman.blogspot.com

Dave Huth: Extraordinary Things 4, http://davemedia.blogspot.com

Great Post: Tips for Nursing School

2006-05-19T08:56:00.000-04:00

Head on over to "I am a Nursing Student" and check out Heather's great post "Tips for Nursing School". It's a must read for nursing students.

Nursing Wiki

2006-05-18T12:39:00.000-04:00

Check it out: A Nursing Wiki!!!

It's already got some great articles. In the true Wiki spirit.... get in there and contribute y'all! This has the potential to be built into something really usefull. For those of you unfamiliar with Wikis it's a way for a community to share and build an information repository. Exciting and empowering stuff.

Grades and Recharge

2006-05-17T22:57:00.000-04:00

The grades are in: B+ accross the board. Not bad for someone worried about failing at one point. Now a couple of weeks to recharge in preparation for the next big push. Just read a great book, "The Color of Water" by James McBride. An excellent read, I recommend it highly.

Knob Joke

2006-05-12T23:27:00.000-04:00

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There has been an intense discussion on the Yahoo Videobloggers list about sexism in the vlogosphere. Someday, I may actually have something intelligent to add to that discussion. Right now, though, I am just going to tell a knob joke.

This post requires some backstory to fully enjoy - If so inclined, the links are here:

Sexism debate

CAUTION: Includes some fairly tame profanity. If that bugs you - please don't watch.

OB Clinical Reflections

2006-05-01T19:47:00.000-04:00

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Reflections on my OB clinical rotation, the home strech of this semester in nursing school, and life in general. Things are definitely looking up. Now it's time to study, study, study for finals next week. Then it's three weeks off before summer session!

Quick Update...

2006-04-30T21:52:00.000-04:00

Things are hectic... Finals are coming up and there are assignments due. My husband is recuperating beautifully! It is exciting that the semester will be over soon. Last OB clinical tomorrow. Look for vlog posts soon but right now I am swamped. But things are generally good. Spring as sprung which is making focus hard but it is my favorite time of year! All the best to all and thanks again for all the support!

Today

2006-04-22T00:21:00.000-04:00

>click here to play video

Reflections on today. A long and difficult day. It is an enlightening experience to be a patient's wife. Now that I am also in the role of professional caregiver, I find the extra knowledge I have aquired has positive and negative aspects... I am once again amazed at the experienced nurses and how supportive they can be to the family as well as their patients while doing 1001 things. What a priviledge it will be to join this community.

Doubt.

2006-04-14T20:56:00.000-04:00

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Reflections on this semester in nursing school, specifically clinicals. There has been a lot of stuff going on in my life, causing some self-doubt. It has not been easy. I will be posting more on the subject. I am determined to make it through.

Let's Talk About Life

2006-04-08T17:07:00.000-04:00

Or birth to be more precise. Check out the divine MissBHavens giving us a tour of her Labor and Delivery Unit. Courtesy of one of my favoritest vlogs: "The Miscellaneous Mischievous Misadventures of Missbhavens."

Let's Talk About Death

2006-04-08T09:32:00.000-04:00

If you do only one thing today - do this: Go and check out "90 Seconds of Dave" and the series of video pieces he has done on death. This is the best thing I have seen on the subject in a LONG time. Well, except maybe hospice nurse Mia's blog "Death Maiden".

Part 1, Part 2, Part 3, Part 4, Part 5, Part 6, Part 7 to follow later today.

Why are you still reading this? Go. NOW. You won't regret it.

Sunday Drive

2006-04-06T07:51:00.000-04:00

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A Sunday drive from Brooklyn to New Paltz, New York, a picnic next to a stream, and assorted parrot hyjinx. A little on the long side.

Brooklyn Spring

2006-03-31T21:26:00.000-05:00

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Spring is finally in the air here in Park Slope, Brooklyn. Got up this morning to placate the gods of alternate side of the street parking and shot these images.

Sidebar Links Galore

2006-03-25T19:16:00.000-05:00

Hey guys and gals- I have been doing some serious beefing up of the General Nursing Links section of the sidebar on the right. I am trying to add links to more specialty nursing associations. If you have suggestions for additions please drop me a comment.

Oma and Moni visit Uncle Jerry

2006-03-25T12:46:00.000-05:00

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My grandmother ("Oma") and I (Moni to my closest friends and family) went to visit my Uncle Jerry's (Jurgen) resting place last week. Shot this video. This cemetery is in New Paltz where he lived for many years. We both miss him very much. I have been thinking about him a lot lately.

Time for a game of tag...

2006-03-19T13:58:00.000-05:00

Okay, so I have been tagged by Student Nurse, prn (sorry for being so slow on the uptake). This is going to be tough, because I can think of at least a dozen for many of these categories:

Four Jobs I've Had in My Life:
1. Counter waitress at Howard Johnson's, Brattleboro, Vt.
2. Photo finish operator at Hinsdale Race Track, Hinsdale, NH
3. Computer Geek (20 years of variations on this theme), Stonybrook University; JP Morgan Chase
4. Shovelling horse and cow poo, painting barns, planting, pruning, and weeding tomato plants, picking tomatoes, driving a small tractor(tilling and spraying), Brattleboro, Vt.

Four Movies I Could Watch Over and Over (only four! Darn. I could think of dozens!):
1. American Beauty
2. 2001 a Space Odysey (almost any Kubric to tell the truth, 'cept that last one: Eyes Wide... Yeech It's Tom Cruise)
3. Office Space
4. It's a Wonderful Life
Honorable Mention: A Fish Called Wanda, The Fifth Element, Blade Runner...

Four Places I Have Lived:
1. New York, NY (born there)
2. Brattleboro, VT (spent my very misspent youth there)
3. Munich, Germany
4. Park Slope, Brooklyn (last 11 years)

Four TV Shows I Love to Watch:
1. Anything on Discovery Health Channel
2. Any flavor of CSI (used to love Quincy when I was a kid)
3. Old Twilight Zones
4. ER

Four Places I Have Been on Vacation:
1. Iceland (honeymoon- had a blast)
2. New Orleans, LA
3. Huntington Ravine, Mount Washington in NH
4. Alta

Four Websites I Visit Daily:
1. Sitemeter (I am a stats addict)
2. my blog
3. blackboard.pace.edu
4. google
Honerable mention: people in my sidebar! I try to get to them all at least once a week. But sometimes its tough!

Four of My Favorite Foods:
1. Sushi
2. Thai
3. Indian
4. Raw Oysters

Four Places I Would Rather Be Right Now:
1. Someplace exotic I have never been to (not a war zone, please)
2. Trekking in Nepal
3. Hiking the Pacific Crest Trail
4. Visiting Buddhist Temples in Nepal, Tibet, Bhutan, Thailand....etc.

Four Most Wonderful Places I've Ever Been:
1. Yosemite Valley, California (You MUST go there before you die- its a religious experience.)
2. Alta, Utah (If you ski powder, you MUST, go there, ditto the above)
3. Iceland
4. Southern West Coast of Costa Rica

Four Books I read Over and Over Again (Only Four!!!):
1. Siddhartha, Herman Hesse
2. The Life of Pi, Yann Martel
3. The Blind Assassin, Margaret Atwood
4. Anything by Octavia Butler - if I have to choose it would be the Xenogenesis Trilogy.
Honerable mention:Memoirs of a Geisha, Arthur Golden, The Left Hand of Darkness, Ursula LeGuin,

Four Songs I listen to Over and Over Again:
1. Shine On You Crazy Diamond, Pink Floyd, Wish You Were Here
2. Hidden Treasure, Traffic, The Low Spark of High Heeled Boys
3. Babelogue/Rock 'n' Roll Nigger, Patti Smith Group
4. Broken English, Marianne Faithful, Broken English
Honerable Mention (About 500 more songs!!!!!)

Four Reasons Why I Blog?
1. I need a creative outlet. I find blogging/vblogging is fun and relaxing.
2. to share my experience with those who might find it interesting or helpful. Specifically anyone considering career change or going into nursing.
3. It allows me to let my feelings out and clarify my ideas.
4. I like watching the "body of work" evolve. Each entry on it's own is a piece of the puzzle. When you look at the blog as a whole- it takes on a whole new life.

Four people I tag to do this?
1. Anyone who has the desire and time to do it.
2. Nurse Practitioner's Place
3. Third Degree Nurse
4. MissBHavens

I understand some people don't like or have time for these things. If you can't or just don't wanna - don't sweat it.

Why Choose Nursing? Marilyn Jaffe-Ruiz

2006-03-16T18:20:00.000-05:00

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As promised, I am very pleased to bring you Dr. Marilyn Jaffe-Ruiz, professor of Nursing at Pace University's Lienhard School of Nursing giving her perspective on why Nursing is a great career choice and why she has never regretted her decision to enter the nursing field in 1963. This is the third installment in this series on Why (or Why Not)Choose Nursing. I hope to be able to entice some more interesting folks to weigh in so please check back for future installments.

Why Choose Nursing (or Not) - Miss B speaks

2006-03-12T23:18:00.000-05:00

I greatly admire MissBHavens.
She puts out one of my favorite video blogs, "The miscellaneous mischievous missadventures of misbhavens" which I visit regularly. I highly recommend it. A while back I did a "Why Nursing" post and I asked other nurses to join me. MissB has done an absolutely honest post about a very difficult day in her life as a nurse. I think it is just as important for those of us entering the profession to see this side of the coin as well as the upside.

I sincerely hope we all commit to join together as nurses to build each other up instead of tearing each other down. I know it sounds naive, but that is what I intend to strive for in my new professional life.

Thank you, MissBHavens for your wonderful and honest post.

Click here for her post. Or here for her blog.

Nursing Dx:

2006-03-06T19:24:00.000-05:00

Caregiver role strain related to multiple(3) caregiving responsibilities, high nursing school workload, and limited personal support system as evidenced by: irritability, anger, feelings of inadequacy, feelings of being overwhelmed, fatigue, lethargy, extreme anxiety, alternating bouts of insommnia and hypersomnia, inability to concentrate, forgetfullness, emotional lability, and overeating.

Care Plan to follow....

Lovely Leeloo

2006-02-28T17:23:00.000-05:00

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Sappy but mercifully short ode to my pet parrot, Leeloo. Ok, I admit it, I am pathetically in love with a bird. A creature with a brain smaller than a walnut. Yep, I am owned by her.

WARNING: THIS IS SO SAPPY AND CUTE THAT EVEN THE HARDEST CORE ANIMAL LOVERS WILL PROBABLY WANT TO PUKE THEIR GUTS OUT!

It's Not About the "Procedures"

2006-02-22T21:34:00.000-05:00

It's easy to fall into procedure seeking mode in clinical. We all want to hone our technical skills. "Oohh, wow, you got to put in a Foley?" I definitely felt a thrill when I did an SQ, IM and intradermal injection, all in the same day. A dressing change? PEG tube, IV? Cool!

But then there is the little stuff. Today I had to leave early so I just got to assist another student with a bed bath and medication administration on her patient. Nothing fancy but he was a big guy who could not really move on his own and so it was good - I was glad I could help. I have worked with this student a couple of times and I really admire her. She has worked as a Tech, I think, so she has the basic care skills and is very organized and competent. I learn so much working with her. Anyway, this guy was kind of a mess when we started. All kinds of guck in his mouth and REALLY needing a bed change. But when all was said and done and he was cleaned up, mouth cleaned and suctioned and we somehow managed to get his medications into him, I really felt a sense of satisfaction. Part of it was definitely about seeing the patient well cared for. The other was from working as a team with another caring person towards that goal. I did not realize how cool that would be, but it is. Bonus!

Subway Sounds, Volume 1, Issue 2

2006-02-19T11:38:00.001-05:00

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I came across this Huqin musician in the NYC subway the other day. I am not sure which of the Huqin instruments it is - maybe Erhu? I am fascinated by subway musicians. There are so many excellent musicians working the NYC subways. The diversity is amazing. Previously, I did a post showing a drummer using buckets.

New Kid in Town Alert.

2006-02-16T07:47:00.000-05:00

There's a new career changer nurse in bloggertown! Check out Student Nurse Jack! She's just getting started but her posts are great. I particularly love the one about why she is going to Nursing School at 38. Nice!

2006-02-12T16:20:00.000-05:00

Brooklyn Blizzard '06

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A walk around Park Slope in the snow February 12, 2006.

Music:

"Winter - Largo"

The Four Seasons, Vivaldi

Performed by Michaela Petri

Leeloo's Breakfast

2006-02-11T11:08:00.000-05:00

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Sometimes when the world is going to shit, it's the little things that save you.

WARNING: GRAPHIC CUTE PET PARROT FOOTAGE.

Music:
Leo Kottke
"Wheels"
Instrumentals: the Best of the Chrystalis Years
Buy me

2006-02-10T16:44:00.000-05:00

The Wrong Side of the Bed

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When life is going to shit all around - sometimes it's the really small stuff that just gets your goat.

Thoughts on NICU Clinical

2006-02-05T19:48:00.000-05:00

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A quick post about my NICU Experience last week.

Save Christine

2006-02-04T12:48:00.000-05:00

I recently received an appeal from a Lienhard Nursing School/Pace University graduate. Marc Pechera graduated last year. Unfortunately, his sister has been diagnosed with cancer and she needs a bone marrow transplant. She is filipino, and apparently that makes finding a matching donor even more difficult. I am trying to spread the word by posting a link to their website, SAVE CHRISTINE http://christine.site.ph.

Please visit the site and spread the word as far as you can. If you are interested in registering as a bone marrow donor visit their site or www.marrow.org.

I know a number of folks from the Phillipines visit my site: please spread the word. There is more of a chance to find a match there, I would think.

Thanks!

Back in the boat...

2006-02-01T21:47:00.000-05:00

Maybe that last post was a wee bit melodramatic. Things have been overwhelming. I like the river analogy, being a kayaker and a general water lover. I feel less messed up today. More like I'm in my kayak, paddling like mad, trying not to flip than ready to drown any second. There's rocks and branches and stuff to avoid but there are also eddies (my incredible NICU clinical experience the other day). The water seems to be a little calmer, or maybe I am just reading it better. Now that I have beaten that analogy to death... School is busy, personal life is totally out of control, clinicals are amazing but stressfull.... I hope to get back to doing some video soon. Right now writing is all I can handle.

Confluence

2006-01-29T13:30:00.000-05:00

con·flu·ence
Pronunciation: 'kän-"flü-&n(t)s
Function: noun
1 : a coming or flowing together, meeting, or gathering at one point
2 a : the flowing together of two or more streams b : the place of meeting of two streams c : the combined stream formed by conjunction

A confluence of events have overtaken me and several of those I love. I can not blog on these events; they do not belong to me. The events converge, washing over my body and soul, carrying me with them like the joining of powerful rivers. I struggle to stay afloat and offer a helping hand. The others are in the river, far deeper than I am, their struggle more desperate; they need my help. Who do I reach out to first? How do we get through? Where has my strength gone? Will I drown? I feel lost. I am ashamed that the thought "why me?" keeps surfacing. Why not me? Or a much better question: "Why them?"

And They're Off!!

2006-01-25T20:03:00.000-05:00

The flag has come down on the beginning of a new semester...

So much has happened recently! I am excited to be back at school. Let's see... Sunday I had my 42d Birthday. I went out dancing the night before and had a fabulous time... This year I did not feel like blogging about it. Not in a bad way. It was great; I am in a good place in my life, I just did not feel like writing on it. Maybe later.

The semester began on Monday. It's going to be a busy semester. Today we met with our clinical instructor for our Peds rotation. She seems great; very enthusiastic.

I am taking a graduate course on nursing theory in the evening. There are several nurses in the BS completion and the nurse practitioner program in the group. They come from extremely diverse backgrounds and some have been nursing for 20+ years! I am thrilled to have the opportunity to work with these experienced nurses and learn from them.

Also, I have convinced three of the faculty to do pieces for my "Why Nursing" series of vblogs. I look forward to being able to start offering them up in the next couple of weeks.

If there are any nursing students or nurses out there who are in the NYC area who would like to participate in this series, I would love to film you. Email me or post a comment.

Vlogging for Peace

2006-01-23T00:03:00.000-05:00

Click to play

This post is my response to Pete Rahon's call to action for the Million Minutes Vlog4Peace. My altar had been somewhat neglected so I decided to clean and rededicate it and use footage from this activity for the basis of my one minute vlog.

C'mon vlogger people, if it can be done for Carp Caviar, it can certainly be done for peace!

What better subject?

Why Nurse? My take.

2006-01-20T21:48:00.000-05:00

Click Here to Play

A number of folks have been coming here with the question "Why Become a Nurse" or Why Choose Nursing". Here is my take. I hope to get some other opinions for you over the next few months. Stay tuned.

A Day to Remember the Dream

2006-01-16T10:04:00.000-05:00

"Nonviolence is the answer to the crucial political and moral questions of our time, the need for mankind to overcome oppression and violence without resorting to oppression and violence. Mankind must evolve for all human conflict a method which rejects revenge, aggression, and retaliation. The foundation of such a method is love."

-Martin Luther King Jr., December 11, 1964

Click for more Martin Luther King, Jr. quotes

"I Have A Dream" speech

Brooklyn Bird

2006-01-12T13:59:00.000-05:00

Ok, here it is, as promised, the Leeloo video.

WARNING: This is a pet video. It contains gratuitous cutsey footage of an adorable bird. If this kind of thing makes you barf, DO NOT WATCH IT! There, pet video haters, (you know who you are) you have been adequately forewarned.

Click to watch

Surf'n Bird
The Tube City!: Best of the Trashmen
The Trashmen
BUY ME

Thank You, Mediblogopathy!

2006-01-11T13:11:00.000-05:00

I won! I won! Wow, I am excited. "Becoming a Nurse" has won "Nurse Blog for the Month" over at the wonderful Mediblogopathy! I am so honored. Thanks! Mediblogopathy hosts the definitive list of nurse blogs so if you are looking for more blogs to read - head on over there. I also had some stiff competition this month - I recommend all the blogs in the running as worthy reads - please check them out and vote next month!

Dancing Shoes

2006-01-08T12:50:00.000-05:00

Last night a good friend took me out dancing at Roxy in Manhattan. I had an amazing time... but the morning after - oh boy.

Great Cookbook

2006-01-06T20:17:00.000-05:00

Hi. I was just looking through my vast cookbook colletion and I found this book I kind of forgot about. This book was my lifeline when I was caring for my uncle Jerry. It's called "Laurel's Kitchen Caring: whole-food recipes for everyday home care giving". Here is a quote:

"In the past several years, because of sad events, I have been priviledged to watch some fine caregivers in action. This little book hopes to carry their spirit to people who have these precious opportunities, and want to give their best. During this time my own behind-the-lines contribution has been on the Kitchen Patrol, and so here you have recipes, some of my own, and some from friends, ranging from comfort dishes for childhood snuffles and grumps, to real-food sustinence for people who are so ill they find it hard to eat at all."

Another:

"There's some old, deep wisdom in the belief that when you, with a loving heart, prepare and give a delectable sweet treat, you may for a short time ease the bittrness of someone's sickness, or even, their sadness."

A great book, loaded with stories about caregiving among the recipes. An excellent book to recommend to the caregivers you know.

Broken links - fixed

2006-01-04T21:12:00.000-05:00

Hey I found a bunch of broken links in my old videos. They should be fixed now if anyone wants to look at the old stuff - I think the snail is sorta cool.

Park Slope Dawn, 6:30 AM

2006-01-02T13:05:00.000-05:00

Shot this little neighborhood tour this morning when I arrived at my gym to find it closed. It's a little dark and (Dramamine alert) shaky. Sorry, clearly my walking and shooting technique needs a little work... I hope you like it anyway!

Happy New Year!!

2006-01-01T13:42:00.000-05:00

Wishing you all the most marvelous, incredible, happy year ever!

My lord, have I been lazy since school let out. I had all these great plans for this break. Fun books to read, see my friends who I have been neglecting, call people, clean my house, go to the gym more, actually get some food in the house and (gasp) cook, more and better vblogs, on and on.

Well... I have been watching a lot of vblogs. Have done a fair amount of surfing. Been playing with my xmas toys.... my new video ipod, 400 gig of disk for my Mac (Yes!!!) and best but scariest of all - Final Cut Studio (Holy shit, what have I got myself into...) Got my hair trimmed. Played with Leeloo a lot. Went out to eat a few times... In short - goofed off a whole bunch!

So anyway, there is only 23 more days till the whip comes down and school starts up again.. Time to hop to it, get busy and all of that.

Oh, and 22 days till I turn 42... oh dear. Well, at least 42 is the answer. Or so they say.

Video Archive

2005-12-26T07:28:00.000-05:00

I have added a MeFeedia Video Archive to my sidebar. Here it is as a post, too. Just wanted to have an easy link where folks could access the video content in one place, if so inclined.

Video archive by Mefeedia

Martini Time!

2005-12-24T12:46:00.000-05:00

Inspired by the marvelous, merry missbhavens and her most amazing holiday drink tip, I am sharing my own favorite holiday drink recipe. Happy Holidays! Merry Christmas, Joy to all!

"Winter Wonderland"
Etta James
12 Songs of Christmas

Buy me

Hendrick's Gin

Wow!

2005-12-21T19:41:00.000-05:00

I am so relieved and so happy, you wouldn't believe it. Still waiting for my comprehensive grade but right now its looking like two A-, and one A. Not too bad, at all. I know there are a bunch of you out there still slogging out your finals.... all the best to you and thanks again for all the amazing support that you have given me. Once I rest up a tad look forward to some new videoblogs!

Done (for now)

2005-12-21T10:23:00.000-05:00

Last exam done... Yes! So psyched!

Strike! Two down...

2005-12-20T10:23:00.000-05:00

Well we made it to school for our final this morning in spite of the transit strike. One more exam out of the way. Didn't seem too bad, but time will tell. One more this afternoon and then the comprehensive exam tomorrow.... Boy, I can not wait.

Post Clinical Validation Relief

2005-12-16T20:26:00.000-05:00

Well, I feel like blaming yesterday's rants on the full moon but I think I just blew a gasket. Things weren't nearly as bad as they felt to me at that moment. Nursing school stress, I guess. Here is my post of reflection on that and the sense of intense relief that comes from getting the validations done. Also included are words of thanks for all of you very supportive, wonderful folks who have been leaving comments and messages. Big shout out to you and big THANK YOU!!!! It really helps to know you are out there.

Inarticulate Rant!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

2005-12-15T19:18:00.000-05:00

I am so F@#$%^&*ing pissed off, stressed out and irritated right now that I can't even articulate it. Aaaaaaargh. We had about 60 students trying to practice for our upcoming validation tomorrow in a room the size of a F#$%^ing closet. Plus most of us had classes so we only got a couple of hours.... Not to mention that we are reusing all the supplies repeatedly. I paid 24K+ a year for this! GRRRR. Fuck it. fuck, fuck, fuck, fuck, fuck....FUCK! It's my blog and I'll curse if I want to. Sorry. Plus its sleeting and we are expected to make it to school tomorrow even if there is a transit strike. Breathe, Monika, breathe, unclench your fists, loosen up those grinding teeth, stop slamming your head into your desk and breathe....

One down....

2005-12-14T20:22:00.000-05:00

The Clinical course (8 cr) Final Exam is over. I won't know my grade till next week, but I think I did well. We shall see. On to getting ready for validations on Friday - IV & IVPB, SC and IM injections, inserting foley catheters, tracheostomy care and suctioning, and wound care. Oh boy.

Then two more exams and a comprehensive exam next week that covers everything. On Dec 21, this semester will be over. I am going to sleep for days....

SNOW Daze

2005-12-09T15:26:00.000-05:00

They cancelled the exam today so --- three more days to study... Yay!

My IM away message... or who's lazy now?

2005-12-07T21:57:00.000-05:00

My current IM away message: "Final. Friday. Cummulative. 35% of total grade. 8 credit course. 'nuff said."

That lazy stuff has just got to be OVER!

Oh No - It's The Attack of the LAZY girl

2005-12-04T08:48:00.000-05:00

OK, so it's the home stretch. For the last month or two its been nonstop running. Study for an exam. Done. Now, work on that group project. Next! Work on that paper. Oh boy, another exam. And another. Now, do another paper. Here comes a clinical validation. And finally, the dreaded Medication Administration exam that you need a 90 to pass. Whoo hoo, passed that! The next exam is my final for clinical on Friday. No major exams or assignments till then. I had all these ambitious plans for this weekend. Catch up on my reading, get a jump on studying for the final (35% of grade and cummulative, you know.) Go to the gym, do a little housecleaning (my house looks like who did it and ran). Xmas shopping perhaps?

And what, you might ask, have I accomplished?

Zip. Nada. Nix. Dick. Bupkus. Nothing. Well, OK, I slept till two yesterday (gasp!). Some web surfing. Mucked with my blog template. Bad TV. Play with bird.

Aaargh! I just have to get through till the 21st! Just a couple of weeks more.

Why, oh, why can't the lazies ever show up on schedule?

Bad, nursing student. Bad, bad, bad... no cookies for you before bed.

Test Taking Anxiety

2005-11-27T00:35:00.000-05:00

Last week our class put on a health fair. We all had to do a poster on a "Healthy People 2010" related subject. Our group chose Test Taking Anxiety. Since this is a subject that is so very near and dear to many of our hearts I am including some of the information gathered for you here...

Useful websites for general study information:
http://www.studygs.net
http://sas.calpoly.edu/asc/ssl.html
http://www.howtostudy.org/
http://www.d.umn.edu/student/loon/acad/strat/
http://appserv.pace.edu/execute/page.cfm?doc_id=5114

Test Taking Anxiety:
http://www.counsel.ufl.edu/selfHelp/testAnxiety.asp
http://www.couns.uiuc.edu/brochures/testanx.htm
http://www.testtakingtips.com/anxiety/
http://www.studentlife.villanova.edu
http://www.wright.edu/cps/studentsuccess/testanxiety.htm

General college stress information:
http://www.campusblues.com/
http://www.dartmouth.edu/~acskills/success/stress.html
http://appserv.pace.edu/execute/page.cfm?doc_id=5105
http://ub-counseling.buffalo.edu/vpc.html

Reflections on Thanks.

2005-11-25T18:14:00.000-05:00

Just a little Thanksgiving video post. I have been reflecting on how very lucky I am to have been given the opportuntity to start over and try something to new. Wishing all of you the best in your lives!

With love,

Monika

Exam Cram

2005-11-22T06:37:00.000-05:00

Papers, exams, projects... It's just that time of the semester - until I get my act together (sorry!) and start posting regularly again ... check out these VIDEO blogger nurses:

the miscellaneous mischievous misadventures of missbhavens * VIDEO

Jan's Video Blog * VIDEO!

They are real videoblogs, not just blogs with video thrown in. Great stuff!

I wanna be a videoblogger when I grow up.... (Oh, and a nurse, of course!!)

This sums it up!

2005-11-12T09:21:00.000-05:00

This quote describes, quite simply and eloquently, exactly how I feel at this point in my life and why I am becoming a nurse:

"Basically, in my very flawed and human way, I want to be a force for love in the world.
I want to let go of and grow beyond everything that constrains me from that intention"

- Nina Rothschild Utne, Chair and CEO, Utne Reader.

He gave the BEST hugs

2005-11-06T10:19:00.000-05:00

Today is Uncle Jerry's birthday. It would have been his 59th year if he had not died almost five years ago. There are an infinite number of things that I miss about Jerry, or Jurgen, as we in his family affectionately knew him. One very simple thing has been on my mind today. Hugs. Jurgen was the best hugger I ever knew. Jerry would greet you, or say goodbye or comfort with a hug. If he was saying hello he would have a big smile, a warm laugh, and a hearty hello (with his amazing German accent) and he would fold you up into this big hug. This was no quick hit and run hug. He would linger and rub your back and say something like "I am so glad to see you!". It was a hug that made you feel like the most important person in the world, completely safe, accepted and loved. His hugs felt like a ray of sunshine or a breath of fresh air. You could not help but hug back.

I miss his hugs deeply, yet I am grateful that he was in my life to show me how it should be. My hug guru.

About three weeks after he died, I had this amazing dream. In my dream I was hugging Jerry. It was so incredibly vivid that it felt absolutely real to me, like he was really there. It was a strange feeling because in my dream he didn't exactly have form, but he was absolutely real. The hug had a physical and psychic quality to it. I do not know how to articulate what is was like. In my dream, Jerry told me everything was ok and to me did not seem to know he was dead. I said "But you are dead, don't you know you are dead?" He just smiled at me, his warm, gentle smile, like it was some incredibly funny joke that I did not understand, but that I would get sooner or later. That was the end of the dream. I never dreamed of him again, but it was the most vivid dream I have ever had and I have never forgotten it.

And I never will.

Gay Men's Health Crisis
Callen-Lorde Community Health Center
The Body
Day One
ACT-UP
NYAC

We Are Not Alone

2005-11-03T07:53:00.000-05:00

You know, the blogosphere, specifically the little corner of it that belongs to nurses, is a pretty cool place. When I started this endevour, I felt like I was pretty weird. Throwing away a successful career, starting over at my age... I must be nuts. Well I have discovered that I am merely a single cashew in this great mix! I want to highlight the blogs of a couple of folks who have made similar leaps of faith. I enjoy it so much to be able to read their stories and have that feeling that I am one of many adventurers on this journey. So here is a selection of blogs from intrepid souls for whom nursing is a second or even a third career:

third degree nurse
student nurse, prn
dog food sugar
Coffee and Conversation in a Smoky Room
Critical Pathways
Uni_student

Surf's Up!!!

Apologies

2005-10-28T22:52:00.000-04:00

I apologize in advance to all my legitimate commenters. I have had to turn on the word verification, which may make leaving a comment a little more time consuming. I was getting spammed to death and it is just getting too tough to delete them all manually. Please continue to leave comments - I love hearing from and interacting with the folks that visit. - Ta ta for now...

CHOKED!

2005-10-26T20:54:00.000-04:00

Drat! Choked on that exam, dammit. Back to work.

Blogger's Block

2005-10-25T16:10:00.000-04:00

Some days you really wanna say something but it just sounds like more of the same. I am not sure what I want to write today except I feel bad for not writing in a while. It's raining like crazy, I have an exam tomorrow and I guess I am procrastinating a little.

One thing I really have been enjoying is seeing all the interesting places around the country and world that people are stopping by from. Please feel free to leave a comment or question if you want (or not that's ok too). I am particularly interested in whovever is coming in from Rhineland/Pfaltz because my Oma (grandmother) is from Kaiserslautern which is in the Pfaltz. I would love to know a little more about all you guys, wherever you are from, and I will try to answer or respond whenever I can.

Thanks for stopping by!

Clinical validations...

2005-10-19T17:46:00.000-04:00

Passed two clinical validations today. HEENT (Head, Eyes, Ears, Nose and Throat) assesment and Chest, Lungs, Thorax and Cardiac assessment. I was so nervous! But it is over. Big sigh of relief. Yay.... OK, NEXT!! Forging on to study for an Exam tomorrow....

OB Clinical #1 Reflections

2005-10-14T18:19:00.000-04:00

click here to download

Some reflections on this week in nursing school and my first OB clinical. Leeloo the Greencheek Conure and alpha bird provides moral support and critique.

Up at six (AM)

2005-10-12T07:04:00.000-04:00

To do homework...wheee! Big fun.

Catching up!!!!!

2005-10-08T22:08:00.000-04:00

Aaargh! Things can turn around so quickly. One day I feel like I am beginning to get a handle on my work. Then I blink. BAM! Instantly I am behind again. While focusing on just getting the reading and assignments done for this coming week - there are two individual papers, two group projects, and several exams coming up that also need attention..... It is never-ending. Sigh...

Reflections on Clinical #2

2005-10-03T15:45:00.000-04:00

What an intense week! After a really concerted effort this weekend I am within a hair's breadth away from being completely caught up. With a little more of a push on the holiday tomorrow, I can actually get ahead of things. This prospect thrills me, since i feel that I have been playing catch up since the start of the semester. I got a 92 on my first exam and a perfect score on my first online quiz. Today's clinical went very well and I finally feel like there may be hope for me yet....

Happy New Year!

First Day of Clinical

2005-09-26T16:14:00.000-04:00

Today was my first day in clinical in a Geriatric facility. I am very excited to be there and finally, really learning nursing. I partnered with another student nurse and we gave our first bed bath. Let's just say I am starting to realize just how much I have to learn. Not just the raw information but the techniques and the skills. There is so much I have taken for granted and now that I am actually faced with doing the job I see how little I know. But this realization brings me to "beginner's mind" which is where I need to be in order to continue this process of becoming. I had hoped that I was already there, but I see now I still have a ways to go. But I am on the path. And that is a beginning.